West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Somerley
Planning paella catering in Somerley? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Staff parties and work lunches
Planning an event in Somerley?
What affects the price in Somerley
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- Parking and unloading
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The date and time of the event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Anything your venue supplies
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
How our paella catering works in Somerley
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it’s served straight from the pan. Whether it’s engagement and anniversary parties and retirement celebrations, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegan paella.
In a hamlet or village like Somerley, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Where
- Somerley (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Somerley hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Somerley questions
What’s the nearest station to Somerley for guests?
The closest is Fishbourne station, roughly 4 miles away.
How far is Somerley from London?
Roughly 59 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Somerley: venues, travel and local tips
Somerley is about 4 miles north-west of Selsey, in West Sussex. For paella catering in Somerley, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Somerley is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 26 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Birdham CE Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Fishbourne station, about 4 miles north. The coast is within about 5 miles of Somerley, 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. Whether your event is on Bell Lane and Hundredsteddle Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Almodington (1 mile south-east), Birdham (1 mile north-east), Shipton Green (1 mile north-west), Earnley (1 mile south) and East Wittering (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (7 miles east), Chichester (5 miles north-east), Selsey (4 miles south-east), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles north-west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Castle (4.9 miles north-east) and St Richard's Hospital (5.2 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Pilsey Island.
- Local pubs include The Birdham Public House (1 mile north-east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
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, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Count adults and children separately
- Mention any other courses or food
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Organising for someone else?
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Nearby places to Somerley
Also in Somerley
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. In Somerley, 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’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
- 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