West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Small Dole
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Small Dole.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
Planning an event in Small Dole?
Paella catering for your event in Small Dole
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. For retirement and leaving parties and weddings and evening receptions, we’ll put together a menu of black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and mixed paella.
For a rural spot like Small Dole, the countryside is part of the appeal: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Small Dole (BN5)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
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.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Also near Small Dole
More for events in Small Dole
Step by step
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. Evenings in Small Dole 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.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Events we cater in Small Dole
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Small Dole:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Big birthdays
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
For guests coming by train, Shoreham-By-Sea station is about 4.8 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- The deposit and payment dates
- Allergen information for each dish
Catering an event in Small Dole
Small Dole is about 5 miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. For an event in Small Dole, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 8 miles away.
Historic houses near Small Dole include Portslade Manor (4.8 miles south-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Parks such as Tottington Wood generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Small Dole is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Small Dole is within about 6 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in BN5, we can bring paella catering to you. We can cater an event on streets such as Downsview, Tottington Drive and Orchard Close. Close by, we cover events in Woodmancote (2 miles north-east), Henfield (2 miles north), Blackstone (2 miles north-east), Albourne (3 miles north-east) and High Cross (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (11 miles north), Worthing (8 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (13 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Southlands Hospital (4.4 miles south) and Steyning Museum (2.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Woods Mill and Truleigh Hill.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Organising for someone else?
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Small Dole? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Small Dole: your questions answered
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Which station should guests use for Small Dole?
The closest is Shoreham-By-Sea station, roughly 4.8 miles away.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Can paella be the only main course?
It’s a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Events in Small Dole and across West Sussex
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Fast service from the pan
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
What affects the price in Small Dole
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The courses you’d like
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
- 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