West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Patching
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Patching. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Naming days and family parties
- Birthday celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Paella catering in Patching
Paella catering in Patching, cooked live
There is something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. For christenings and family gatherings and garden parties and summer barbecues, we can cook paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and mixed paella for your guests.
In a small place like Patching, events are usually in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Location
- Patching (BN13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Somewhere close to park and unload
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Patching
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
Paella compared with other options
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why choose Love Paella in Patching
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Catering across West Sussex, including Patching
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
For event organisers in Patching
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Organising a club, school or community event in Patching? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Also in Patching
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Around midsummer it stays light in Patching until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Ask for labels on each pan
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Patching: venues, travel and local tips
Patching is about 3 miles north-west of Worthing, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Patching, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Patching is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. Our events stretch from Patching to Brighton (14 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Clapham Wood? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Patching is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Patching is within about 5 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in BN13, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From The Street and Coldharbour Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Patching, we cover Clapham (1 mile south-east), Hammerpot (2 miles west), Cote (2 miles east), Angmering (2 miles south-west) and Hangleton (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Worthing (3 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles west), Chichester (14 miles west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles east) and Lancing (6 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Museum of Sussex Folklore (3.1 miles south-east) and Old Castle (3.1 miles south-east). The countryside around Patching includes WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.
- Schools near Patching include The Angmering School (2.2 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Fox pub (0.8 miles south-west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Why choose paella catering in Patching?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
In Patching and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Summer garden parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Retirement celebrations
For a christening or wedding at a church such as The Parish Church of St John the Divine, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Before booking anyone
- When final numbers are due
- What happens if it rains
- Space, access and power needs
- Whether travel is included
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Your questions about paella catering in Patching
Could we have live paella in Clapham Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Is Patching too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Which paellas do you recommend?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
- 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