West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Hickstead 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 Hickstead.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday parties
- Naming days and christenings
Paella party catering for Hickstead events
How our paella party catering works in Hickstead
Paella is made for relaxed parties: it is served from the pan and shared, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. Popular choices include vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella, and we are often booked for christenings and naming days and street and neighbourhood parties.
A country party near Hickstead is perfect for paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Hickstead (RH17, BN6)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Hickstead: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Peter: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Hickstead too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Can you set up in a small garden?
Usually, yes, if there is a flat, open spot away from fences and branches. Send us a photo of the space.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
When should I book?
As early as you can for summer weekends, which fill up first. Check your date with us.
Do you cover Hickstead?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Hickstead is within our area and the rest of West Sussex. To check your date, use our quote form.
Party venues around Hickstead
Hickstead is about 3 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We bring paella party catering to gardens, halls and venues around Hickstead and the surrounding area. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 10 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Burgess Hill station, about 3.1 miles east. After a christening at a church like The Parish Church of St Peter, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends. Hickstead is within about 5 miles of the South Downs National Park, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Wherever your party is in RH17 and BN6, we can cook for your guests. Nearby, we also cater parties in Goddards Green (1 mile east), Sayers Common (1 mile south), Abbotsford (2 miles east), Ansty (2 miles north-east) and Hurstpierpoint (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (9 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (3 miles east) and East Grinstead (14 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find The Dene Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Clayton Castle (4.6 miles south-east). The countryside around Hickstead includes Wolstonbury Hill and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Hickstead include St Paul's Catholic College (1.8 miles east)
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
What affects the price in Hickstead
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How long we are needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- Waiting and bar staff
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- The address or venue name
- Which courses you have in mind
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
The process
Here’s how the day generally runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Sunset in Hickstead is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- First, we check the date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your party in Hickstead, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
- Plan seats for most guests
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Give separate numbers for children
We are set up before guests arrive.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges round off the meal.
Should I cook it 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.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Places near Hickstead
More for events in Hickstead
The menu, dish by dish
Churros
Sugary churros with chocolate, a sweet finish.
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is frequently the showpiece, and is best served with lemon.
Who books paella party catering in Hickstead?
It feeds a crowd without anyone stuck in the kitchen, and guests love it.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Celebrations of life
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Naming days and christenings
Nearby historic houses include Ockenden Manor (3.4 miles north-east) and Tyes Place (5 miles north). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Paella compared with other options
If you want special but not formal, live paella is hard to beat. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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