West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Ditchling events
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Ditchling: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Naming days and christenings
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Paella party catering for Ditchling events
About our paella party catering in Ditchling
Birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and summer get-togethers all suit live paella. The cooking is the centrepiece, and the food is served hot and generous. On the menu are chicken and chorizo paella, tapas and seafood paella, and we’re often booked for baby celebrations and family get-togethers.
In a small place like Ditchling, a party in the garden or a nearby field is often the plan. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we’ll handle the rest. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Ditchling (BN6)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Send a picture of the garden so we can check
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Paella Valenciana
- Churros
Ditchling parties: what to know
Ditchling is about 3 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. For paella party catering in Ditchling, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Ditchling. We cover 371 places in West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Ditchling to Brighton (about 6 miles away).
If guests are coming by rail, Hassocks station is about 1.4 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about a mile of Ditchling, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Paella party catering in BN6 is planned around your venue and timings. We can cater a party on streets such as High Street, The Twitten and Charlton Gardens. Nearby, we also cater parties in Keymer (1 mile west), Westmeston (1 mile south), Hassocks (1 mile west), Clayton (2 miles south-west) and Hurst Wickham (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (14 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (14 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north), East Grinstead (15 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles south-west).
A little further out are Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft (under half a mile west) and The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles north-west). Not far away are Ditchling Beacon and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Downlands Community School (1.1 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Bull Hotel (within half a mile west)
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Add a diet question to the invitation
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
- Let the neighbours know
- Tell us how many children are coming
When you’re ready to eat, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges round off the meal.
Nearby places to Ditchling
Other catering in Ditchling
Who books paella party catering in Ditchling?
It’s generous and sociable, perfect for celebrations where people want to mingle.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Milestone birthdays
- Baby celebrations
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Retirement and leaving parties
After a christening at a church like Ditchling Unitarian Chapel, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
Questions to ask before you book
- Payment terms and deposit
- Allergen information for each dish
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Exactly what’s included in the price
How the day works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. At midsummer, it is light in Ditchling until about 9:20pm, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- You tell us the date, address, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send 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.
- It’s served from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Ditchling? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
FAQs for Ditchling
Do you come out to small places like Ditchling?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Ditchling Unitarian Chapel?
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 usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Will the neighbours notice?
Less smoke than a barbecue, more smell, and it’s a good smell. A friendly note to the neighbours helps.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Ditchling.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
What paella party catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Travel, parking and access
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well, and meat eaters frequently try it too.
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels, for the fish lovers.
- 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