West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Portfield, West Sussex
Looking for paella catering in Portfield? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Retirement celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Anniversary celebrations
Paella catering for Portfield events
About our paella catering in Portfield
Paella is generous food: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It turns a meal into an occasion. Whether it is weddings, from canapés to evening food and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we can cook mixed paella, black rice and paella Valenciana for your guests.
For a place the size of Portfield, your own garden is frequently the best venue: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- Portfield (PO19, PO20, PO18)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Working with your venue
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Common questions in Portfield
How far is Portfield from London?
About 54 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook near the sea around Portfield?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Can you feed a lot of people?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
Can you cook indoors?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Portfield
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Portfield: venues, travel and local tips
Portfield is about 1 mile east of Chichester, in West Sussex. For an event in Portfield, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cook in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Portfield to Brighton (28 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Portfield Primary Academy, can book us as a food stall. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St George's, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Portfield is within about 6 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Here we cover the PO19, PO20 and PO18 postcode area. Your event could be at a home on Kent Road, York Road and Spur Road. Being close to the A259 and A285, Portfield is easy for us to reach for your event. We also cook at events in Chichester (1 mile west), Westhampnett (1 mile north-east), Shopwyke (1 mile east), Maudlin (1 mile north-east) and North Mundham (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Bognor Regis (5 miles south-east), Selsey (7 miles south), Littlehampton (10 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles west), Rustington (11 miles east) and Storrington (15 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (0.6 miles west) and Chichester Castle (0.6 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Stoke Down.
- Schools near Portfield include Chichester High School For Girls (0.8 miles south-west) and The Prebendal School (0.9 miles west)
- Local pubs include The East Gate Public House (0.5 miles west)
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
How it works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Planning an evening event in Portfield? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Portfield? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What paella catering costs
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The number of people
- How many staff you need
- Your choice of paellas
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Which courses you have in mind
- The address or venue name
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Confirm allergies by email
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Tell us how many children are coming
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.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Towns and villages near Portfield
Other catering in Portfield
Occasions we cook for in Portfield
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday celebrations
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Nearby historic houses include Goodwood House (2.5 miles north) and West Dean House (4.8 miles north). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How each diet is kept separate
- Travel and parking costs
- The wet-weather plan
- 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