West Sussex · England
Paella party catering in Houghton, West Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Houghton. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Christenings and naming days
- Neighbourhood celebrations
Paella party catering near Houghton
Paella party catering in Houghton, cooked live
We cater parties at homes, village halls with outdoor space, clubs and hired venues in and around Houghton. We’re frequently asked to cater celebrations of life and engagement and anniversary parties, with tapas, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
A country party near Houghton is perfect for paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Where
- Houghton (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
About the dishes
Churros
Fried, sugared and dipped in chocolate, a sweet finish.
Tapas
Bravas, tortilla, croquetas and more while the paella cooks.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Compared with a barbecue, paella is served all at once, so everyone eats together. And there is no host stuck at the grill. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Houghton
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Drinks service on request
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Houghton? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Have enough chairs for most guests
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Plan where rubbish goes
We arrive before your guests to set up, so the cooking is under way as people arrive.
Tapas to start keep hunger at bay.
Towns and villages near Houghton
Other catering in Houghton
Questions from Houghton
Can you cook in Arundel Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Is paella OK for kids?
Paella is popular with children, particularly a simple chicken pan. Tell us how many and their ages.
Can you cater a party at a village hall?
Frequently, yes. We need somewhere outside or well ventilated to cook, and the venue’s permission.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
How it works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. A summer party in Houghton stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:05pm; add lights for the evening.
- Send us the date, the address, numbers and diets.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We arrive, set up in your garden or venue and start the sofrito.
- Guests gather round as it cooks, nibbling tapas if you’ve booked them.
- It’s served from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your party, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Should I cook it myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Planning a party in Houghton
Houghton is about 6 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. For paella party catering in Houghton, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover 371 places in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 19 miles away.
Historic houses near Houghton include Bignor Roman Villa (2.8 miles north-west) and Parham House (3.1 miles north-east). Grand settings like these frequently have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. For guests coming by train, Amberley station is about 0.5 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 2 miles of Houghton, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Paella party catering in BN18 is planned around your venue. For parties just outside Houghton, we cover Arundel (3 miles south), Warningcamp (3 miles south-east), Crossbush (3 miles south), Tortington (4 miles south) and Poling (4 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (9 miles south-west), Chichester (11 miles west), Selsey (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Arundel and District Hospital (2.7 miles south) and Amberley Castle (1.2 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Amberley Wild Brooks and Bignor Hill.
Occasions we cook for in Houghton
One big dish beats lots of fiddly ones, and there’s little waste.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Christenings and naming days
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Garden get-togethers
Thinking of a party in Arundel Park? Cooking in a public park normally needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first.
What to look for in a quote
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- How bad weather is handled
What paella party catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Whether you need crockery
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Expected numbers
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
- 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