West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Lordington, West Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Lordington.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering in Lordington
Is live paella right for your event?
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 it is entertaining too. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why us?
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- A quote that spells everything out
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Paella catering for your event in Lordington
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there’s very little waste, and the food is served hot. That is why it works for so many events. Whether it’s fairs, fêtes and festivals and big birthdays, we will put together a menu of paella Valenciana, black rice and vegetable paella and more.
Somewhere as small as Lordington, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Lordington (PO18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Places near Lordington
What else we do in Lordington
How we price paella catering
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Whether you need crockery
- How many guests are eating
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Where the event is
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Lordington, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Lordington questions
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Racton Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
What about pudding?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Is paella a full meal?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Who books paella catering in Lordington?
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Lordington, people book us for events such as:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Stansted Park? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Who provides the crockery
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
How the day works
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Around midsummer it stays light in Lordington until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
Lordington: venues, travel and local tips
Lordington is about 4 miles east of Havant, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Lordington, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. Lordington is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 22 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Bourne Community College, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Southbourne station, about 2.5 miles south. Lordington is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of West Sussex takes in PO18, so your event can be anywhere in it. Close by, we cover events in Racton (1 mile south), Walderton (1 mile north-east), Funtington (2 miles south-east), Hambrook (2 miles south) and West Ashling (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (11 miles south-east), Chichester (6 miles south-east), Selsey (11 miles south-east), Emsworth (3 miles south-west), Portfield (6 miles south-east) and Yapton (13 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Havant War Memorial Hospital (4.7 miles south-west) and Emsworth Museum (3.2 miles south-west). The countryside around Lordington includes Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Walderton Down.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us how many children are coming
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable 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