West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Small Dole events
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Small Dole. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Family get-togethers
Planning an event in Small Dole?
About our paella party catering in Small Dole
Homes, gardens, clubs and hired venues all work. On the menu are churros, chicken and chorizo paella and tapas, and typical bookings are for garden get-togethers and anniversaries and engagement parties.
In a small place like Small Dole, a party in the garden or a nearby field is often the plan. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we will handle the rest. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Small Dole (BN5)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
Seafood paella typically gets the photos.
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well, and meat eaters often try it too.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Tapas
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- The number of people
- Timings and hours
- Whether you need crockery
- Your choice of paellas
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- The address or venue name
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The date and rough timings
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
Cooking yourself saves money but costs you the party. Book us and you’re free to enjoy it. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Small Dole hosts choose us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- We cover Small Dole and the whole of West Sussex
- Drinks service on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
Your questions about paella party catering in Small Dole
Can you cook in Tottington Wood?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is Small Dole too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you cater in Small Dole?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Small Dole and the rest of West Sussex. For a quote, use our quote form.
How early should we book?
Early is best, but ask even if it is soon. We’ll check availability straight away.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Is paella OK for kids?
Most children enjoy paella, particularly a simple chicken pan. Tell us how many and their ages.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
How the day works
It is 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. At midsummer, it’s light in Small Dole until about 9:20pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- First, we check the date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- We set up the burners and start the sofrito.
- In goes the rice, and guests gather.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Small Dole parties: what to know
Small Dole is about 5 miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. From the centre of Small Dole to the outskirts, paella party catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Small Dole is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Small Dole to Brighton (8 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Portslade Manor (4.8 miles south-east). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. For guests coming by train, Shoreham-By-Sea station is about 4.8 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Small Dole, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop. Near the coast, within about 6 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice, and we always plan for wind.
This part of West Sussex takes in BN5, and we can cater your party anywhere in it. Local streets include Downsview, Tottington Drive and Orchard Close; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Woodmancote (2 miles north-east), Henfield (2 miles north), Blackstone (2 miles north-east), Albourne (3 miles north-east) and High Cross (3 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (11 miles north), Worthing (8 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (13 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Southlands Hospital (4.4 miles south) and Steyning Museum (2.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Woods Mill and Truleigh Hill.
Nearby places to Small Dole
More for events in Small Dole
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
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 saves passing messages back and forth.
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Plan where rubbish goes
- Count adults and children separately
- Let the neighbours know
We keep the cooking area tidy and safe, with a clear space around the burners.
Tapas and nibbles while the paella cooks keep guests happy.
- 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