West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering in Thakeham
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events makes the food a highlight of your party in Thakeham.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Big family gatherings
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Planning an event in Thakeham?
Working with your venue
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
About our paella party catering in Thakeham
It is easy to cater for a mix of guests: meat, seafood and vegetable or vegan pans side by side. Children generally love a simple chicken paella. Whether it is celebrations of life and retirement celebrations, we will put together a menu of churros, vegetable paella and tapas and more.
Country parties near Thakeham suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Thakeham (RH20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Parties in Thakeham: gardens, venues and local tips
Thakeham is about 8 miles north of Worthing, in West Sussex. Tell us where your party in Thakeham will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Thakeham is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 15 miles away.
Historic houses near Thakeham include Parham House (3.6 miles south-west) and Old Place Manor (4 miles west). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. If guests are coming by rail, Pulborough station is about 4.1 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Thakeham, so many gardens around here have a great outlook.
Wherever your party is in RH20, we can cook for your guests. We can cater a party on streets such as The Street, Bramble Lane and Cray's Lane or the roads around them. Other places close to Thakeham for paella party catering include Abingworth (1 mile south-west), Warminghurst (1 mile south-east), Goose Green (1 mile north-east), West Chiltington (1 mile north-west) and Heath Common (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Crawley (15 miles north-east), Horsham (9 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south), Haywards Heath (15 miles east), Burgess Hill (13 miles east) and Littlehampton (10 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find The Storrington And District Museum (2.2 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Knepp Wildland and Chanctonbury Hill.
Common questions in Thakeham
Do you come out to small places like Thakeham?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
What does paella party catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Does it make a lot of smoke?
Less smoke than a barbecue, more smell. A friendly note to the neighbours helps.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Can you set up in a small garden?
Generally, yes, if there is a flat, open spot away from fences and branches. Send us a picture of the space.
Is live paella right for your party?
A takeaway order is easy but forgettable. Live paella is something guests remember. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Thakeham hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- We cover Thakeham and the whole of West Sussex
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Why choose paella party catering in Thakeham?
Any occasion works, from a first birthday to a ruby wedding.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Family get-togethers
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big birthdays
- Celebrations of life
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as The Parish Church of St Mary, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before you book
- Staff numbers and hours
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How bad weather is handled
- If the price includes VAT
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
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 at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. Sunset in Thakeham is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June. If the party runs past dark, we will need light where we cook and serve.
- We check your 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’s served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Paella Valenciana
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Count adults and children separately
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Warn the neighbours
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
Kids are fascinated by the giant pans, at a safe distance.
Churros with chocolate are a hit with children and adults.
Also near Thakeham
Also in Thakeham
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Timings and hours
- How many staff you need
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The number of people
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Where the event is
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your party, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, 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