West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for West Itchenor events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in West Itchenor.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Summer garden parties
Book paella catering in West Itchenor
Paella catering in West Itchenor, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. For anniversaries and engagement parties and festivals, fairs and school events, we’ll put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, black rice and vegan paella.
In a small place like West Itchenor, events are normally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Where
- West Itchenor (PO20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why West Itchenor hosts choose us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Fast service from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
What affects the price in West Itchenor
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Guest numbers
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
- How long we are needed on site
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The address or venue name
- What the venue already provides
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Who books paella catering in West Itchenor?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in West Itchenor and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Birthday celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Summer garden parties
For guests coming by train, Bosham station is about 2.9 miles away.
What your quote should include
- How each diet is kept separate
- When final numbers are due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The venue requirements
West Itchenor: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for West Itchenor?
Bosham station, about 2.9 miles north of the centre.
How far is West Itchenor from London?
About 59 miles from central London.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Can we choose the seafood?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is generally the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Paella catering around West Itchenor
West Itchenor is about 5 miles south-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. For an event in West Itchenor, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around West Itchenor. We cover all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 24 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Nicholas' Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. West Itchenor is within about 6 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
For paella catering in PO20, we plan around your venue. From The Street, Waterstone Close and Spinney Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Other places close to West Itchenor for paella catering include Bosham Hoe (1 mile north-east), Bosham (2 miles north), Chidham (2 miles north), Broadbridge (3 miles north) and Apuldram (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (8 miles east), Chichester (5 miles north-east), Selsey (6 miles south-east), Littlehampton (15 miles east), Emsworth (5 miles north-west) and Portfield (5 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find St Richard's Hospital (5 miles north-east) and Chichester Castle (4.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near West Itchenor include Pilsey Island.
What we need at the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Towns and villages near West Itchenor
More for events in West Itchenor
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in West Itchenor? 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.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Put allergy details in writing
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
- 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