West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Hardham, 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 Hardham.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Retirement celebrations
- Big birthdays
Paella catering for Hardham events
Perfect for your event in Hardham
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
In Hardham and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Milestone birthday parties
- Summer garden parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St James' CofE Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What your quote should include
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Whether travel is included
- How bad weather is handled
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Paella catering in Hardham, cooked live
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That’s what we bring to events in Hardham. We cook mixed paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater birthday celebrations and garden parties and summer barbecues.
Somewhere like Hardham, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Hardham (RH20)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price paella catering
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Travel, parking and access
- How many staff you need
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Guest numbers
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Where the event is
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
How the day 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 Hardham? 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.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear 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.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Give us a contact for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Get a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Hardham: your questions answered
Is Hardham too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Hardham close to London?
About 42 miles from central London, and well within our area.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Do you come to Hardham?
We do. We cook at events in Hardham and across West Sussex. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Count adults and children separately
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Planning live paella in Hardham
Hardham is about 10 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. For an event in Hardham, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Hardham. We cater in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 19 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Botolph's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Historic houses near Hardham include Old Place Manor (1 mile north-east) and Parham House (2.5 miles south-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The South Downs National Park is within about 3 miles of Hardham. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in RH20, we plan around your venue. For events just outside Hardham, we cover Coldwaltham (1 mile south-west), Pulborough (1 mile north-east), Watersfield (2 miles south-west), Fittleworth (2 miles north-west) and Lower Horncroft (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (12 miles north-east), Worthing (10 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (13 miles south-west), Chichester (13 miles south-west), Littlehampton (10 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Amberley Museum (3.6 miles south) and Coates Castle (2.8 miles west). Open spaces near Hardham include Bignor Hill and Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby, you will find The White Hart Public House (0.7 miles north-west)
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Also in Hardham
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
- 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