West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Southgate, West Sussex
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Southgate.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Naming days and family parties
Live paella catering in Southgate
Paella catering for your event in Southgate
There is something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It turns a meal into an occasion. We’re frequently asked to cater anniversary celebrations and leaving dos and retirements, with mixed paella, seafood paella and black rice.
For a place the size of Southgate, your own garden is often the best venue: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Where
- Southgate (RH10, RH11)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s generally the most photographed pan.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Tell us what else is being served
- Send allergies to us in writing
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Planning live paella in Southgate
Southgate is about 1 mile south-west of Crawley, in West Sussex. For paella catering in Southgate, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cook in 371 places across West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 19 miles away.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Tilgate Park? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Nearby historic houses include Tyes Place (5 miles south). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
We cater events across RH10 and RH11 and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Oak Road, Cook Road and Colet Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Main roads around Southgate include the A2004 and A2219, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. For events just outside Southgate, we cover Crawley (1 mile north-east), Tilgate (1 mile east), West Green (1 mile north), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east) and Langley Green (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (6 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south), East Grinstead (8 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (5 miles south-west).
A little further out are Crawley Museum (0.7 miles north) and County Mall (0.5 miles north-east). The countryside around Southgate includes Tilgate Lake.
- Schools near Southgate include Three Bridges Junior School (less than half a mile north-east) and St Wilfrid's Catholic School (0.5 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Downsman pub (less than half a mile south-east)
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Southgate? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Places near Southgate
What else we do in Southgate
How the day works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in Southgate until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Read more
Why choose paella catering in Southgate?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Community events and fairs
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
For guests coming by train, Southgate has its own station, Crawley station.
Comparing caterers
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether travel is included
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether VAT is included
What affects the price in Southgate
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Parking and unloading
- Whether you need crockery
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
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
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The courses you’d like
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
FAQs for Southgate
How far is Southgate from London?
Roughly 27 miles from the centre of London.
Could we have live paella in Tilgate Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you bring everything you need?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
- 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