A giant pan of seafood paella with mussels and prawns cooking over a burner

West Sussex · England

Paella Catering in Elsted

Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Elsted.

Community events and fairs
Staff parties and work lunches
Big birthdays

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Paella catering in Elsted

Get a quote

Should I cook it myself?

Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.

For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.

Paella catering in Elsted, made fresh on the day

Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own, so diets are easy to manage. On the menu are seafood paella, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for fairs, fêtes and festivals and retirement and leaving parties.

In a rural place like Elsted, the setting does a lot of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.

Close view of a large paella pan full of rice, mussels and prawns

Where: Elsted (GU29)
Region: West Sussex
Special diets: Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
Also available: Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
Price: Quoted for your event
Last updated: 23 October 2026

Diets, allergies and planning

Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:

Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Ask for labels on each pan
Mention any other courses or food
Tell us about coeliac guests specifically

Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.

Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.

Your questions about paella catering in Elsted

Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Paul?

Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.

Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?

Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.

How much space do you need?

Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you are not sure.

Can you supply plates?

If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.

Is the paella cooked on site?

It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.

Does paella work for big events?

Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.

Do you have a kids’ option?

Of course. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Include children in your numbers.

Where do you cater?

London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Elsted.

Planners, venues and businesses

For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.

If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.

What paella catering costs

Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:

How many guests are eating
How long we’re needed on site
Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Your choice of paellas

Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.

What we need to know

Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:

Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Any dietary needs and allergies
Where the event is
A picture of where we’d cook

Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.

Paella compared with other options

Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.

Why book with us

Fast service from the pan
A clear, itemised quote
Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Live cooking, not reheated food

Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.

Live paella in Elsted: local details

Elsted is about 5 miles south-east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. From the centre of Elsted to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Elsted to Guildford (22 miles away).

For a christening or wedding at a church such as The Parish Church of St Paul, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The South Downs National Park is within about 2 miles of Elsted, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.

Paella catering in GU29 is planned around your venue. Nearby, we also cater events in East Harting (1 mile west), Elsted Marsh (1 mile north-east), Didling (1 mile south-east), Nyewood (2 miles north-west) and Dumpford (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (14 miles south-east), Chichester (9 miles south), Emsworth (9 miles south-west), Portfield (10 miles south), Yapton (14 miles south-east) and East Wittering (14 miles south).

Well-known places in the area include Midhurst Community Hospital (4.7 miles east). Open spaces near Elsted include Iping and Stedham Commons and Oakham Hill.

Pubs nearby include The Three Horseshoes Public House (within half a mile east)

Map of Elsted © OpenStreetMap contributors

The process

Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. In Elsted, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.

First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.

How to prepare

Tell us when you want to eat
Let us know who to talk to on the day
Arrange a covered spot for wet weather

Getting a price

The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.

Tell us about your event

Related guides

What does paella catering cost?

Occasions we cook for in Elsted

It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.

Whatever you are celebrating in Elsted, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:

Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Family celebrations and christenings
Retirement celebrations
Milestone birthday parties

Nearby historic houses include Uppark (2.7 miles south-west) and Cowdray House (4.7 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.