West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering in Highleigh
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Highleigh. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Anniversary celebrations
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Book paella party catering in Highleigh
Paella party catering in Highleigh, cooked live
Live paella suits birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and summer parties. The pans become the focal point, and everyone gets a hot, generous plate. Popular choices include mixed paella, tapas and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater anniversary celebrations and garden parties and summer barbecues.
Country parties near Highleigh suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Area
- Highleigh (PO20)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
What’s in the pans
Chicken & chorizo paella
A smoky favourite with children and adults, and a good choice for guests who do not eat seafood.
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well.
The process
Here’s how the day generally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. For a late-May party in Highleigh, sunset is around 8:50pm; at midsummer it’s about 9:20pm. 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 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 who to talk to on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your party in Highleigh, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Churros
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Is live paella right for your party?
A takeaway order is easy but forgettable. Live paella is something guests remember. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- We cover Highleigh and the whole of West Sussex
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Planning a party in Highleigh
Highleigh is about 3 miles north of Selsey, in West Sussex. From the centre of Highleigh to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Highleigh is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Highleigh to Southampton (about 28 miles away).
After a christening at a church like St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends. Near the coast, within about 4 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice, and we always plan for wind.
We cater parties across PO20. Local streets include Critchel's Lane, Highleigh Road and Green Lane; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Highleigh for paella party catering include Almodington (1 mile west), Birdham (2 miles north-west), Somerley (2 miles west), Earnley (2 miles west) and Shipton Green (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north), Selsey (3 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles north-west) and Rustington (13 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Chichester Castle (4.5 miles north) and Selsey Lifeboat Museum (3.5 miles south). The countryside around Highleigh includes Pilsey Island.
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
We are set up before guests arrive.
We can bring plates, cutlery and staff.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Highleigh questions
Which station should guests use for Highleigh?
Chichester station, about 3.9 miles north of the centre.
We’re having a ceremony at St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Nearby places to Highleigh
More for events in Highleigh
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Travel, parking and access
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- Expected numbers
- A photo of the space, if you can
- What the venue already provides
- The date and time of the event
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Events we cater in Highleigh
One big dish is simpler than lots of small ones.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Highleigh and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Retirement celebrations
- Celebrations of life
- Garden get-togethers
- Christenings and naming days
For guests coming by train, Chichester station is about 3.9 miles away.
Questions to ask before booking
- Payment terms and deposit
- A clear list of what’s included
- How bad weather is handled
- The venue requirements
- 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