West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for East Marden events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in East Marden. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Family celebrations and christenings
Live paella catering in East Marden
About our paella catering in East Marden
A couple of different pans covers everyone: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. For engagement and anniversary parties and summer garden parties, we’ll put together a menu of vegan paella, mixed paella and seafood paella for your guests.
In a small place like East Marden, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Area
- East Marden (PO18)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell usually draws people over. Planning an evening event in East Marden? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Leave space around the cooking area
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Catering an event in East Marden
East Marden is about 6 miles north-east of Emsworth, in West Sussex. Anywhere in PO18, we can bring the pans to you. We cook in 371 places in West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 24 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Peter, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. East Marden is within about 4 miles of the South Downs National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of West Sussex takes in PO18, so your event can be anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater events in Compton (2 miles west), Chilgrove (2 miles east), Didling (3 miles north-east), Elsted (3 miles north) and East Harting (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (12 miles south-east), Chichester (7 miles south-east), Selsey (14 miles south), Emsworth (6 miles south-west), Portfield (7 miles south-east) and Yapton (13 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Museum of Gardening (3.6 miles east). Open spaces near East Marden include Bow Hill and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Questions from East Marden
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Places near East Marden
Other catering in East Marden
Why choose paella catering in East Marden?
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Summer garden parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Community events and fairs
Historic houses near East Marden include Uppark (2.6 miles north-west) and West Dean House (3.6 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the price includes, item by item
- When final numbers are due
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Before you choose a spot
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you. The main points are:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Why choose live paella in East Marden?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why East Marden hosts choose us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Events in East Marden and across West Sussex
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- How many courses
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many guests are eating
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Which courses you have in mind
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff