West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Hammerwood
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hammerwood and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Company summer parties
Paella catering for Hammerwood events
About our paella catering in Hammerwood
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. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and seafood paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater anniversaries and engagement parties and office lunches and staff parties.
In a rural place like Hammerwood, 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. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Area
- Hammerwood (RH19)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What affects the price in Hammerwood
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Timings and hours
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Guest numbers
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The address or venue name
- Diets and allergies you know about
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Let us know about other food at the event
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Towns and villages near Hammerwood
More for events in Hammerwood
How it works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Planning an evening event in Hammerwood? 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.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hammerwood, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Why choose paella catering in Hammerwood?
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
In Hammerwood and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Summer garden parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Nearby historic houses include Hammerwood Park (0.8 miles south-east) and Bassetts Manor (2.5 miles south-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Questions to ask before booking
- Staff numbers and hours
- What happens if it rains
- Whether travel is included
- The deposit and payment dates
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Hammerwood: venues, travel and local tips
Hammerwood is about 3 miles east of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. Tell us where your event in Hammerwood will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. Hammerwood is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 22 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Stephen, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Dormans station, about 2.4 miles north-west. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Hammerwood, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the RH19 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Ashurst Wood (2 miles south-west), Cowden (2 miles east), Dormansland (2 miles north-west), Dormans Park (2 miles west) and East Grinstead (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (10 miles west), Haywards Heath (11 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (15 miles south-west), Broadfield (11 miles west), Bewbush (12 miles west) and Southgate (10 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Bolebroke Castle (2.9 miles south-east) and East Grinstead Museum (2.4 miles south-west). Open spaces near Hammerwood include Hedgecourt Lake.
Questions from Hammerwood
What’s the nearest station to Hammerwood for guests?
The closest is Dormans station, roughly 2.4 miles away.
Is Hammerwood close to London?
About 26 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that’s what it is made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Do you cover Hammerwood?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Hammerwood and across West Sussex. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
DIY paella versus live catering
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Where we can cook in Hammerwood
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- 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