West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Furnace Wood, West Sussex
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Furnace Wood.
- Retirement celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
- Big birthdays
Live paella catering in Furnace Wood
How our paella catering works in Furnace Wood
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there is very little waste, and the food arrives hot. That is why it works for so many events. For company summer parties and christenings and family gatherings, we’ll put together a menu of black rice, seafood paella and paella Valenciana for your guests.
Somewhere as small as Furnace Wood, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Area
- Furnace Wood (RH19)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
For event organisers in Furnace Wood
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
How it works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Around midsummer it stays light in Furnace Wood until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
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More for events in Furnace Wood
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Count adults and children separately
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Ask for labels on each pan
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Furnace Wood
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is often the first pan to empty.
Who books paella catering in Furnace Wood?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Summer garden parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Retirement celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Saint Hill Manor (3 miles south-east) and Standen (3.4 miles south-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Before booking anyone
- The deadline for final numbers
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether travel is included
- What the price includes, item by item
FAQs for Furnace Wood
Is Furnace Wood close to London?
Roughly 25 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What’s the nearest station to Furnace Wood for guests?
The closest is East Grinstead station, roughly 2.5 miles away.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
What space do you need to cook?
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.
Do you bring everything you need?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Is live paella right for your event?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Furnace Wood
- Fast service from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- We cover Furnace Wood and the whole of West Sussex
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Catering an event in Furnace Wood
Furnace Wood is about 3 miles west of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. Wherever your event is in the RH19 area, we can cook for your guests. We cook in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Furnace Wood to Brighton (about 21 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is East Grinstead station, about 2.5 miles south-east. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Felbridge Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Furnace Wood is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in RH19 is planned around your venue. Your event could be at a home on Lake View Road, Felcot Road and Furnace Farm Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Domewood (1 mile north-west), Snow Hill (1 mile west), Felbridge (1 mile east), Crawley Down (1 mile south) and Newchapel (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (6 miles west), Horsham (12 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles south), Burgess Hill (13 miles south), East Grinstead (3 miles east) and Broadfield (7 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Effingham Park Motor Museum (0.9 miles west) and Queen Victoria Hospital (3.1 miles east). The countryside around Furnace Wood includes Hedgecourt Lake.
- Local schools include Imberhorne School (1.6 miles east)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
- 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