West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Jacob's Post
Planning paella catering in Jacob's Post? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near Jacob's Post
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella catering in Jacob's Post, made fresh on the day
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it’s served straight from the pan. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, vegan paella and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for birthday celebrations and leaving dos and retirements.
In a rural place like Jacob's Post, the setting does plenty of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Location
- Jacob's Post (RH15)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Nearby places to Jacob's Post
Other catering in Jacob's Post
Jacob's Post questions
Which station should guests use for Jacob's Post?
Burgess Hill station, about 0.7 miles south-east of the centre.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Can paella be the only main course?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll help you decide the split.
Why choose paella catering in Jacob's Post?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Jacob's Post book us for occasions like:
- Birthday celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as The Gattons Infant School, can book us as a food stall.
Before you book anyone
- A clear list of what’s included
- The wet-weather plan
- Allergen information for each dish
- The venue requirements
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Planning an evening event in Jacob's Post? 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.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in Jacob's Post
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Catering an event in Jacob's Post
Jacob's Post is about 1 mile west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Jacob's Post or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Jacob's Post to Brighton (9 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Burgess Hill station is about 0.7 miles away. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Providence Strict Baptist Chapel, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The South Downs National Park is within about 3 miles of Jacob's Post, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the RH15 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Downs Road, London Road and Western Road or the roads around them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Burgess Hill (1 mile east), Abbotsford (1 mile north), World's End (1 mile east), Goddards Green (1 mile west) and Hurst Wickham (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (11 miles north), Horsham (11 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (3 miles north-east), East Grinstead (13 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (10 miles south-west).
A little further out are Burgess Hill Museum (0.5 miles south-east) and The Dene Hospital (1.2 miles west). The countryside around Jacob's Post includes Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve and Wolstonbury Hill.
- Nearby schools include Oakmeeds Community College (0.6 miles south-east) and St Paul's Catholic College (0.8 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Cricketers pub (within half a mile north-west)
Live paella or other catering?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Where we can cook in Jacob's Post
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Jacob's Post
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Mention any other courses or food
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we usually call guests over.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
- 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