West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in River, West Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in River. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Summer garden parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering for River events
Paella catering for your event in River
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around River. We cook vegan paella, black rice and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for leaving dos and retirements and anniversary celebrations.
In a rural place like River, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- River (GU28)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in River stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Related guides
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Live paella in River: local details
River is about 12 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. Events in River are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover 371 places in West Sussex. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 17 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as The Parish Church of St Peter, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. River is within about 4 miles of the South Downs National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cater events across GU28. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Upperton (1 mile east), Selham (2 miles south), Tillington (2 miles south-east), South Ambersham (2 miles south-west) and Hampers Green (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Bognor Regis (14 miles south), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (14 miles south-east), Rustington (15 miles south-east), Storrington (11 miles south-east) and Billingshurst (9 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Lodsworth Castle (1.3 miles south) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (3 miles south-east). Not far away are Graffham Common and Blackdown.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Hollist Arms Public House (0.7 miles west)
Questions from River
Is River 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.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in River? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Occasions we cook for in River
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Company summer parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Naming days and family parties
- Community events and fairs
Historic houses near River include Petworth House (2.4 miles east) and Cowdray House (3.1 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- How bad weather is handled
- How each diet is kept separate
- Space, access and power needs
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
More for events in River
Why live cooking beats a buffet
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why River hosts choose us
- Fast service from the pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- We cover River and the whole of West Sussex
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- How many courses
- Timings and hours
- How many guests are eating
- Travel, parking and access
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- Where the event is
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
- 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