West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Sidlesham Common events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Sidlesham Common: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Book paella catering in Sidlesham Common
About our paella catering in Sidlesham Common
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it is ready, it’s served straight from the pan. For engagement and anniversary parties and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we can cook mixed paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
Somewhere like Sidlesham Common, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- Sidlesham Common (PO20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
FAQs for Sidlesham Common
How far is Sidlesham Common from London?
Roughly 57 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
What seafood can we have?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. Around midsummer it stays light in Sidlesham Common until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Sidlesham Common: venues, travel and local tips
Sidlesham Common is about 3 miles south of Chichester, in West Sussex. Across the PO20 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 27 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Sidlesham Common is within about 5 miles of the sea, 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. From Chichester Road and Jury Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Close by, we cover events in Street End (1 mile south-east), Sidlesham (1 mile south), Fisher (1 mile east), Keynor Estate (2 miles south) and South Mundham (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Chichester (3 miles north), Selsey (4 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west) and Rustington (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Chichester Cathedral Treasury (2.9 miles north) and Chichester Castle (3.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Nutborne Marshes.
- Pubs nearby include The Blacksmith's Arms Public House (0.9 miles north)
How we price paella catering
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Waiting and bar staff
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The venue or postcode
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The courses you’d like
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us what else is being served
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Places near Sidlesham Common
What else we do in Sidlesham Common
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Paella compared with other options
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Sidlesham Common
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- A quote that spells everything out
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- 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