West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Merston, West Sussex
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Merston and the surrounding area.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Summer garden parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Live paella catering in Merston
About our paella catering in Merston
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it is served straight from the pan. We are often asked to cater big birthdays and naming days and family parties, serving seafood paella, vegetable paella and vegan paella.
In a small place like Merston, events are normally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Area
- Merston (PO20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose paella catering in Merston?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Retirement celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Birthday celebrations
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chichester station, about 2.3 miles west.
Questions to ask before you book
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Payment terms and deposit
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Space, access and power needs
Paella catering around Merston
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Wherever your event is in the PO20 area, we can cook for your guests. Merston is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 26 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chichester Free School, can book us as a food stall. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Giles, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The coast is within about 4 miles of Merston, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Paella catering in PO20 is planned around your venue and your guests. Nearby, we also cater events in Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
A little further out are The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
- Nearby schools include North Mundham Primary School (1.2 miles west) and Chichester High School For Girls (2.1 miles west)
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in Merston stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Name one person we can ask on the day
How to get a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Related guides
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Which courses you have in mind
- What the venue already provides
- Roughly how many adults and children
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Places near Merston
Other catering in Merston
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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 at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Is live paella right for your event?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Drinks service on request
- Catering across West Sussex, including Merston
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Working with your venue
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Your questions about paella catering in Merston
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
How far is Merston from London?
Roughly 54 miles from the centre of London.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it is worth asking.
How many paellas should we have?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Where we can cook in Merston
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
- 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