West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Worth Abbey, West Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Worth Abbey. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Naming days and family parties
Planning an event in Worth Abbey?
How our paella catering works in Worth Abbey
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are vegetable paella, black rice and paella Valenciana, and we’re frequently booked for anniversaries and engagement parties and garden parties and summer barbecues.
In a hamlet or village like Worth Abbey, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Worth Abbey (RH10)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Should I cook it 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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
Why choose live paella in Worth Abbey?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Events in Worth Abbey and across West Sussex
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Common questions in Worth Abbey
We are having a ceremony at Abbey Church of Our Lady Help of Christians: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including West Sussex. Find your area.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
What seafood can we have?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
What affects the price in Worth Abbey
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
- How many courses
- Parking and unloading
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The venue or postcode
- What the venue already provides
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote.
Planning live paella in Worth Abbey
Worth Abbey is about 3 miles east of Crawley, in West Sussex. Wherever your event is in the RH10 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cater in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 18 miles away.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Oriel High School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Nearby historic houses include Gravetye Manor (2.5 miles east) and Priest House (2.8 miles south-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Worth Abbey is within about 7 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the RH10 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Balcombe Lane (2 miles south-west), Furnace Green (2 miles west), Balcombe (3 miles south), Pease Pottage (4 miles west) and Staplefield (5 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (3 miles west), Horsham (9 miles west), Haywards Heath (7 miles south), Burgess Hill (10 miles south), East Grinstead (5 miles north-east) and Broadfield (4 miles west).
Nearby you’ll also find County Mall (3.4 miles west) and Crawley Hospital (4 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Tilgate Lake.
Also near Worth Abbey
Also in Worth Abbey
Step by step
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Evenings in Worth Abbey 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.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Check the venue allows live cooking
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
Who books paella catering in Worth Abbey?
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.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Worth Abbey:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Abbey Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Comparing caterers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Allergen information for each dish
- How long the team stays
- The venue requirements
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Confirm allergies by email
- Give us separate numbers for children
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
- 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