West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Racton
Looking for paella catering in Racton? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Birthday celebrations
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Planning an event in Racton?
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it is served at its best. In Racton, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us a contact for the day
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
How our paella catering works in Racton
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We will recommend what fits your event. Whether it is festivals, fairs and school events and office lunches and staff parties, we will put together a menu of mixed paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana and more.
In a small place like Racton, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. 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. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Racton (PO18, PO10)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How long we’re needed on site
- Guest numbers
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the space, if you can
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Racton 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 will follow the site rules.
Which station should guests use for Racton?
The closest is Southbourne station, roughly 2.1 miles away.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes, that is what it is made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
What else we do in Racton
Planning live paella in Racton
Racton is about 3 miles north-east of Emsworth, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Racton, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. Racton is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. 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 2.1 miles south. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Racton, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cook at events all over PO18 and PO10 and the streets around it. Close by, we cover events in Lordington (1 mile north), Walderton (1 mile north-east), Funtington (1 mile 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).
Nearby you will also find Emsworth Museum (2.8 miles south-west) and Havant War Memorial Hospital (4.4 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Walderton Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Catering across West Sussex, including Racton
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
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.
Working with your venue
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Racton? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
- 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