West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Sidlesham, West Sussex
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Sidlesham.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Summer garden parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
Planning an event in Sidlesham?
How our paella catering works in Sidlesham
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Every pan is cooked on its own. We cook black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella, and we’re frequently booked for weddings and evening receptions and anniversary celebrations.
Somewhere as small as Sidlesham, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
- Location
- Sidlesham (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella in Sidlesham: local details
Sidlesham is about 3 miles north of Selsey, in West Sussex. Tell us where your event in Sidlesham will be, and we will plan access and set-up. We cook in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Sidlesham to Southampton (28 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Sidlesham Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chichester station, about 3.9 miles north. Sidlesham is within about 4 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Paella catering in PO20 is planned around your venue and your guests. We can cater an event on streets such as Rookery Lane, Selsey Road and Manhood Lane. With the B2145 close by, Sidlesham is simple for us to get to. Close by, we cover events in Keynor Estate (1 mile south-west), Street End (1 mile north), Sidlesham Common (1 mile north), Fisher (2 miles north-east) and Church Norton (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (4 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north), Selsey (3 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles north-west) and Rustington (12 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include St Richard's Hospital (4.7 miles north) and Chichester Castle (4.4 miles north).
Nearby places to Sidlesham
What else we do in Sidlesham
Why choose paella catering in Sidlesham?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Birthday celebrations
- Anniversary celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Summer garden parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What your quote should include
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
- Allergen information for each dish
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Working with your venue
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Planning an evening event in Sidlesham? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Give us a contact for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Planning help
Questions from Sidlesham
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Sidlesham?
The closest is Chichester station, roughly 3.9 miles away.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Events in Sidlesham and across West Sussex
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and rough timings
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use 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