West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Tisman's Common
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Tisman's Common. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Company summer parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering in Tisman's Common
How our paella catering works in Tisman's Common
There’s something generous about paella: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. On the menu are paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are regularly asked to cater naming days and family parties and weddings and evening receptions.
Somewhere as small as Tisman's Common, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Tisman's Common (RH12)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in Tisman's Common stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
Why choose live paella in Tisman's Common?
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Tisman's Common hosts choose us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A clear, itemised quote
- Fast service from the pan
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Tisman's Common
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
About the dishes
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Tisman's Common: venues, travel and local tips
Tisman's Common is about 7 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. For paella catering in Tisman's Common, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Tisman's Common to Guildford (about 12 miles away).
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Pennthorpe School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Tisman's Common. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in RH12, we plan around your venue and timings. Local streets include Hornshill Lane and Loxwood Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Tisman's Common for paella catering include Bucks Green (1 mile east), Rudgwick (1 mile east), The Haven (2 miles south-east), Slinfold (3 miles south-east) and Five Oaks (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (12 miles east), Horsham (7 miles east), Broadfield (12 miles east), Storrington (11 miles south), Billingshurst (5 miles south) and Bewbush (11 miles east).
- Schools near Tisman's Common include Rudgwick Primary School (1 mile east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Queen's Head Public House (0.7 miles east)
Who books paella catering in Tisman's Common?
There’s no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Milestone birthday parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversary celebrations
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St John the Baptist, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before booking
- The venue requirements
- Travel and parking costs
- How each diet is kept separate
- The wet-weather plan
Questions from Tisman's Common
Is Tisman's Common too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Tisman's Common close to London?
Roughly 33 miles from the centre of London.
Is paella a full meal?
It’s a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Make sure each pan is labelled
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
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.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Guest numbers
- Your choice of paellas
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Where the event is
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Places near Tisman's Common
What else we do in Tisman's Common
- 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