West Sussex · England
Paella party catering in Clayton, West Sussex
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Clayton: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Paella party catering in Clayton
How our paella party catering works in Clayton
The smell of paella cooking is the best party invitation. People drift over with a drink to watch it cook. We’re frequently asked to cater garden parties and summer barbecues and wakes and memorial gatherings, with seafood paella, churros and tapas.
Country parties near Clayton suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Location
- Clayton (BN6)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Compared with a barbecue, paella is served all at once, so everyone eats together. And there’s no host stuck at the grill. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why us?
- A quote that spells everything out
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Read How we price And The cost guide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Nearby places to Clayton
What else we do in Clayton
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Whether you need crockery
- Parking and unloading
- How many staff you need
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The address or venue name
- The date and rough timings
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
Hosting a paella party in Clayton
Clayton is about 3 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. From the centre of Clayton to the outskirts, paella party catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex.
Historic houses near Clayton include Preston Manor & Gardens (4.7 miles south). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as St John the Baptist's Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. Clayton is within about 2 miles of the South Downs National Park, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Anywhere in BN6, we can cook for your guests. Local streets include Spring Lane, Underhill Lane and Brighton Road; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. Nearby, we also cater parties in Keymer (1 mile north-east), Hassocks (1 mile north), Ditchling (2 miles north-east), Westmeston (2 miles east) and Hurst Wickham (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (14 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles north), Burgess Hill (3 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (7 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Clayton Castle (within half a mile south-west) and The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (0.9 miles north-west). Not far away are Wolstonbury Hill and Ladies Mile.
- Schools near Clayton include Downlands Community School (0.8 miles north)
- Nearby, you will find The Greyhound Public House (1 mile north-east)
Common questions in Clayton
How far is Clayton from London?
Roughly 41 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Clayton?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Where do you cater?
We cover London and the South East, West Sussex included. See all areas.
Does it make plenty of smoke?
Less smoke than a barbecue, more smell, and it’s a good smell. A friendly note to the neighbours helps.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Can you cook in my back garden?
Many gardens work. We need a level spot, clearance from anything flammable and reasonable access. A picture helps.
Is paella OK for kids?
Of course. A simple chicken paella goes down well with children. Tell us how many children are coming.
How many different paellas?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Churros
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Tapas
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Add a diet question to the invitation
- Let the neighbours know
- Have cover ready for a shower
The cooking area stays tidy and safe, with a clear space around the burners.
We can bring plates, cutlery and staff.
A closer look at the menu
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky, satisfying and popular with children, ideal for guests who skip seafood.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella usually gets the photos.
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Sunset in Clayton is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June. If the party runs past dark, we will need light where we cook and serve.
- Send us your date, address and numbers.
- You get a menu and a quote.
- We arrive before your guests and set up.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Why choose paella party catering in Clayton?
One big dish is simpler than lots of small ones, and there is little waste.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Milestone birthdays
- Family get-togethers
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Hassocks station, about 1 mile north.
What to look for in a quote
- Who provides the crockery
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How long the team stays
- 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