West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Highbrook, West Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Highbrook. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Big birthdays
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering in Highbrook
Paella catering in Highbrook, cooked live
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own. On the menu are vegan paella, black rice and seafood paella, and typical bookings are for summer garden parties and fairs, fêtes and festivals.
Somewhere as small as Highbrook, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Highbrook (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Planning an evening event in Highbrook? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- 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 paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
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Planners, venues and businesses
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
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.
Planning live paella in Highbrook
Highbrook is about 4 miles north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. Events in Highbrook are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cover 371 places across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Highbrook to Brighton (16 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Balcombe station is about 3.4 miles away. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Peter's CofE Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Highbrook. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in RH17, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. For events just outside Highbrook, we cover Ardingly (1 mile south-west), Little London (1 mile west), Sharpthorne (2 miles north), West Hoathly (2 miles north) and Horsted Keynes (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (7 miles north-west), Horsham (11 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-west), East Grinstead (5 miles north) and Broadfield (7 miles north-west).
A little further out are Princess Royal Hospital (4.6 miles south) and Parish Museum (2.8 miles south). Not far away are Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
- Local pubs include The Ardingly Inn (1 mile south-west)
What affects the price in Highbrook
These are the factors that matter most:
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- The length of service
- Waiting and bar staff
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Where the event is
Send us the date, your venue or RH17 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Nearby places to Highbrook
Other catering in Highbrook
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why book with us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- A clear, itemised quote
- We cover Highbrook and the whole of West Sussex
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Highbrook questions
How far is Highbrook from London?
About 31 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Highbrook?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How does live paella catering work?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Why choose paella catering in Highbrook?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Highbrook and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Retirement and leaving parties
Historic houses near Highbrook include Priest House (1.5 miles north) and Gravetye Manor (2.4 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- VAT, if it applies
- How bad weather is handled
- Whether travel is included
- How late numbers can change
- 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