West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in West Thorney, West Sussex
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in West Thorney and across West Sussex.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Milestone birthday parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Paella catering in West Thorney
West Thorney: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Eames Farm?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Which station should guests use for West Thorney?
Southbourne station, about 2.2 miles north of the centre.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Is paella a full meal?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
What does paella catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Paella catering for your event in West Thorney
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is exactly what we bring to your event in West Thorney. Whether it is leaving dos and retirements and festivals, fairs and school events, we can cook mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella and more.
For a rural spot like West Thorney, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- West Thorney (PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near West Thorney
Other catering in West Thorney
Planning live paella in West Thorney
West Thorney is about 5 miles south-east of Havant, in West Sussex. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around West Thorney and the surrounding area. West Thorney is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from West Thorney to Southampton (about 22 miles away).
Historic houses near West Thorney include Warblington Castle (3.1 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Southbourne station, about 2.2 miles north. The coast is within about 4 miles of West Thorney, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in PO10, we can cook for your guests. If your venue is just outside West Thorney, we also cover Thorney Island (1 mile north-west), Tye (2 miles west), Southbourne (2 miles north), North Hayling (2 miles west) and Northney (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (10 miles east), Chichester (6 miles east), Selsey (8 miles south-east), Emsworth (3 miles north-west), Portfield (7 miles east) and Yapton (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Emsworth Museum (2.5 miles north-west) and Warblington Castle (3.1 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Nutborne Marshes.
- Nearby schools include Bourne Community College (2.4 miles north)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
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:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in West Thorney
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
Should I cook it myself?
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 paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Why choose paella catering in West Thorney?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Parks such as Eames Farm normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
What to look for in a quote
- How long the team stays
- If the price includes VAT
- What happens if it rains
- What the price includes, item by item
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. In West Thorney, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, use our quote form.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Confirm allergies by email
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
What affects the price in West Thorney
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- How many staff you need
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Where the event is
- Anything your venue supplies
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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