West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Fontwell
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Fontwell and the surrounding area.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversary celebrations
Paella catering for Fontwell events
Paella catering for your event in Fontwell
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for summer garden parties and retirement celebrations.
Somewhere as small as Fontwell, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Fontwell (BN18, PO20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A clear, itemised quote
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Also near Fontwell
What else we do in Fontwell
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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.
How we price paella catering
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
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. We itemise everything in your quote.
What we need to know
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
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and time of the event
- Which courses you have in mind
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Fontwell questions
Is Fontwell close to London?
Roughly 51 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
Can you cook indoors?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you come to Fontwell?
We do. Fontwell is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Before you choose a spot
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you. The main points are:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Mention any other courses or food
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Who books paella catering in Fontwell?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Fontwell and West Sussex:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Westergate Mission Hall, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Comparing caterers
- How bad weather is handled
- How long the team stays
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
Catering an event in Fontwell
Fontwell is about 5 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Tell us where your event in Fontwell will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cover 371 places in West Sussex. Our events stretch from Fontwell to Brighton (about 23 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Barnham station is about 1.6 miles away. Nearby historic houses include Goodwood House (4.2 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Fontwell, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Fontwell is within about 5 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Anywhere in BN18 and PO20, we can cook for your guests. From London Road, Cooke Road and Steeplechase Way or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Eastergate (1 mile south), Slindon (1 mile north-east), Nyton (1 mile south-west), West Barnham (1 mile south) and Slindon Common (1 mile east). Further out, we also cater in Worthing (11 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south), Chichester (6 miles west), Selsey (10 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south-east) and Lancing (14 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Tote Copse Castle (2.2 miles south-west) and Arundel and District Hospital (3.7 miles east). Not far away are Bignor Hill and WWT Arundel.
- Nearby schools include Eastergate CofE Primary School (1.1 miles south-west)
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
How the day works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you are free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. Planning an evening event in Fontwell? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
- 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