West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Southwater, West Sussex
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Southwater: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Summer garden parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering for Southwater events
Should I cook it myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Paella catering in Southwater, cooked live
There is something generous about paella: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. Whether it’s weddings, from canapés to evening food and summer garden parties, we’ll put together a menu of mixed paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
In a smaller place like Southwater, a garden party is often the simplest option: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Let us know about access to the house. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Where
- Southwater (RH13)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
For event organisers in Southwater
Organising a club, school or community event in Southwater? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
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 keeps things simple.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell usually draws people over. Planning an evening event in Southwater? 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.
- We start with a few details 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
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Who books paella catering in Southwater?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Retirement celebrations
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Office lunches and staff parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Southwater Infant Academy, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- Space, access and power needs
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The wet-weather plan
What affects the price in Southwater
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How many courses
- How long we’re needed on site
- The paellas you choose
- The number of people
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
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Also near Southwater
More for events in Southwater
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Southwater
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Put allergy details in writing
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Catering an event in Southwater
Southwater is about 3 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. For an event in Southwater, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Southwater. Southwater is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. Our events stretch from Southwater to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Holy Innocents Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Christs Hospital station is about 1.9 miles away.
Paella catering in RH13 is planned around your venue. Whether your event is on Station Road, Walmer Close and Pevensey Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Southwater, we also cover Tower Hill (2 miles north), Nuthurst (2 miles east), Brooks Green (2 miles west), Barns Green (2 miles west) and Maplehurst (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (9 miles north-east), Horsham (3 miles north), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (11 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Christs Hospital School Museum (1.5 miles north-west) and Horsham Hospital (3.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Knepp Wildland.
- Nearby schools include The Doyle School of Design and Technology (1.5 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Lintot pub (under half a mile west)
Southwater questions
Is Southwater close to London?
Roughly 34 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
We are having a ceremony at Holy Innocents Church: can you cater afterwards?
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. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can paella be the only main course?
It is a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, West Sussex included. See all areas.
- 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