West Sussex · England
Paella party catering in Ford, West Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events makes the food a highlight of your party in Ford.
- Family reunions
- Garden get-togethers
- Naming days and christenings
Paella party catering for Ford events
FAQs for Ford
Can you cook near the sea around Ford?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Which station should guests use for Ford?
Ford station, in Ford itself.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, West Sussex included. See all areas.
Do you bring plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what you need and we will include it in the quote.
Do you come to Ford?
Yes, we do. Ford is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
How many paellas should we have?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can you set up in a small garden?
Frequently, yes, if there’s a level spot clear of fences and trees. Send us a photo of the space.
Paella party catering in Ford, cooked live
Paella is relaxed food: served from the pan, shared and enjoyed, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. Typical bookings include engagement and anniversary parties and summer garden parties, serving seafood paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a small place like Ford, 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. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Area
- Ford (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your party. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. Sunset in Ford is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- Send us your date, address and numbers.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Read more
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Have cover ready for a shower
- Ensure children stay back from the pans
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
We keep the cooking area tidy and safe, with a clear space around the burners.
Tapas to start keep hunger at bay.
More for events in Ford
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
How we price paella party catering
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The number of people
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and time of the event
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Ford parties: what to know
Ford is about 2 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Wherever your party is in the BN18 area, we can bring the pans to you. Ford is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 20 miles away.
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as The Parish Church of St Andrew, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. Historic houses near Ford include Ecclesden Manor (4.8 miles east). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. Ford is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop. Near the coast, within about 3 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice.
Here we cover the BN18 postcode area, so your party can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Station Road, Ford Road and Rodney Crescent; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. For parties just outside Ford, we cover Tortington (1 mile north), Horsemere Green (1 mile south), Climping (1 mile south), Wick (1 mile east) and Lyminster (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles east) and Lancing (11 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles north) and Rustington Museum (3.5 miles east). Open spaces near Ford include WWT Arundel.
- Pubs nearby include The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station (less than half a mile north-east)
Why choose live paella in Ford?
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. With live paella, you are a guest too. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Ford hosts choose us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Events we cater in Ford
Any occasion works, from christenings to retirements.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Milestone birthdays
- Family reunions
If guests are coming by rail, Ford station is in Ford itself.
Comparing caterers
- Space, access and power needs
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What happens if it rains
About the dishes
Churros
Churros are a treat for all ages.
Tapas
A few tapas set the scene.
- 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