West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Wiggonholt events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Wiggonholt. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Naming days and family parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Live paella catering in Wiggonholt
Catering an event in Wiggonholt
Wiggonholt is about 2 miles north-west of Storrington, in West Sussex. Across the RH20 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 17 miles away.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Parham Park? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Wiggonholt Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Wiggonholt is within about 4 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in RH20 is planned around your venue and your guests. Other places close to Wiggonholt for paella catering include Marehill (1 mile north), West Chiltington Common (1 mile east), Cootham (2 miles south-east), Nutbourne (2 miles north-east) and Broomershill (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Horsham (11 miles north-east), Worthing (9 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (13 miles south-west), Chichester (14 miles south-west), Littlehampton (9 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include The Storrington And District Museum (2.3 miles south-east) and Amberley Castle (3.1 miles south-west). The countryside around Wiggonholt includes Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve.
About our paella catering in Wiggonholt
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll suggest what suits your event. Typical bookings include family celebrations and christenings and summer garden parties, with vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and mixed paella.
Somewhere as small as Wiggonholt, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Wiggonholt (RH20)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Towns and villages near Wiggonholt
What else we do in Wiggonholt
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
How we price paella catering
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
- The number of people
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
- The date and time of the event
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.
Who books paella catering in Wiggonholt?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement celebrations
Historic houses near Wiggonholt include Parham House (1.5 miles south) and Old Place Manor (1.8 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- A clear list of what’s included
- How each diet is kept separate
The process
Here’s how the day normally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in Wiggonholt stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Read more
Wiggonholt questions
Can you cater a reception after a service at Wiggonholt Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Could we have live paella in Parham 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. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
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.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Paella compared with other options
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Fast service from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria and bar staff available
- 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