West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Balcombe Lane events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events turns food into part of your party in Balcombe Lane.
- Christenings and naming days
- Garden get-togethers
- Birthday parties
Paella party catering near Balcombe Lane
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Give separate numbers for children
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Have cover ready for a shower
We keep the cooking area tidy and safe, with space kept clear around the burners.
We can bring plates, cutlery and staff.
Paella party catering in Balcombe Lane, made fresh on the day
A paella party works in most gardens, if there is a level spot away from fences and trees. Send us a picture if you are unsure. We’re frequently asked to cater garden parties and summer barbecues and street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers, with churros, vegetable paella and mixed paella.
Country parties near Balcombe Lane suit live paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
- Area
- Balcombe Lane (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. A summer party in Balcombe Lane stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Send us the date, the address, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up in your garden or venue and start the sofrito.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan and clear our cooking area away when we are done.
Getting ready for the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Related guides
Hosting a paella party in Balcombe Lane
Balcombe Lane is about 4 miles south-east of Crawley, in West Sussex. Tell us where your party in Balcombe Lane will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We cover 371 places in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 17 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Tyes Place (3 miles south-west) and Priest House (3.2 miles east). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. After a christening at a church like The Parish Church of St Mary, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Balcombe Lane, so many gardens around here have a great outlook.
Anywhere in RH17, we can bring paella party catering to you. If your venue is just outside Balcombe Lane, we also cover Balcombe (1 mile south), Worth Abbey (2 miles north-east), Furnace Green (2 miles north-west), Pease Pottage (3 miles west) and Staplefield (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (4 miles north-west), Horsham (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (5 miles south), Burgess Hill (8 miles south), East Grinstead (6 miles north-east) and Broadfield (4 miles north-west).
A little further out are Crawley Museum (3.9 miles north-west) and Waterbury Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow and Tilgate Lake.
- Schools near Balcombe Lane include Oriel High School (2.5 miles north-west)
Towns and villages near Balcombe Lane
More for events in Balcombe Lane
Balcombe Lane: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Balcombe Lane too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, including West Sussex. Find your area.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you set up in a small garden?
Often, yes, if there’s a level spot clear of fences and trees. Send us a photo of the space.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Is live paella right for your party?
A hog roast is great for meat lovers, but harder for vegetarians and vegans. Separate paella pans cover everyone. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Balcombe Lane hosts choose us
- Fast service from the pan
- Events in Balcombe Lane and across West Sussex
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Drinks service on request
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
What’s in the pans
Churros
Fried, sugared and dipped in chocolate, a sweet finish.
Tapas
A few tapas set the scene.
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Balcombe Lane
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
How we price paella party catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The number of people
- How long we are needed on site
- How many courses
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Where the event is
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Occasions we cook for in Balcombe Lane
It suits mixed ages and mixed diets, from children to grandparents.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Baby celebrations
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Balcombe station, about 1.3 miles south.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- Staff numbers and hours
- When final numbers are due
- The wet-weather plan
- 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