West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Southwater 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 makes the food a highlight of your party in Southwater.
- Celebrations of life
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Birthday parties
Paella party catering near Southwater
Paella party catering in Southwater, cooked live
It’s easy to cater for a mix of guests: meat, seafood and vegetable or vegan pans side by side. Children usually love a simple chicken paella. On the menu are seafood paella, vegetable paella and mixed paella, and typical bookings are for wakes and memorial gatherings and family get-togethers.
In a place like Southwater, a garden party is normally the easiest option. Tell us about access and parking, and we’ll bring everything else. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Location
- Southwater (RH13)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Parties in Southwater: gardens, venues and local tips
Southwater is about 3 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. Whether your party is in the middle of Southwater or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Southwater is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Southwater to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
If guests are coming by rail, Christs Hospital station is about 1.9 miles away.
Paella party catering in RH13 is planned around your venue and timings. Local streets include Station Road, Walmer Close and Pevensey Road; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. Nearby, we also cater parties in Tower Hill (2 miles north), Nuthurst (2 miles east), Brooks Green (2 miles west), Barns Green (2 miles west) and Maplehurst (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (9 miles north-east), Horsham (3 miles north), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (11 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Christs Hospital School Museum (1.5 miles north-west) and Horsham Hospital (3.2 miles north). Not far away are Knepp Wildland.
- Schools near Southwater include The Doyle School of Design and Technology (1.5 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Lintot pub (less than half a mile west)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer party in Southwater 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 your date, address and numbers.
- You get a menu and a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Before we arrive
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Have enough chairs for most guests
- Let the neighbours know
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
We arrive before your guests to set up, so the cooking is under way as people arrive.
Churros with chocolate are a hit with children and adults.
FAQs for Southwater
Is Southwater close to London?
About 34 miles from central London.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Holy Innocents Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook in my back garden?
Many gardens work. We need a level spot, clearance from anything flammable and reasonable access. Send us a picture.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
Can you do a kids’ option?
Most children enjoy paella, especially a mild chicken one. Tell us how many and their ages.
Do you cover Southwater?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Southwater is within our area and the rest of West Sussex. To check your date, use our quote form.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Places near Southwater
More for events in Southwater
What we need at the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A picture of the garden helps us check the space
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Southwater
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
Working with your venue
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Occasions we cook for in Southwater
It feels like a holiday in your own garden.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Baby celebrations
- Family get-togethers
- Garden get-togethers
- Milestone birthdays
After a christening at a church like Holy Innocents Church, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
Comparing caterers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deposit and payment dates
- How bad weather is handled
Paella compared with other options
A hog roast is great for meat lovers, but harder for vegetarians and vegans. Separate paella pans cover everyone. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why book with us
- Catering across West Sussex, including Southwater
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
About the dishes
Chicken & chorizo paella
Chicken and chorizo is a crowd-pleaser, though it isn’t traditional in Valencia.
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well.
- 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