West Sussex · England
Paella party catering in The Haven, West Sussex
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in The Haven: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Family reunions
- Christenings and naming days
Planning an event in The Haven?
Paella party catering for your party in The Haven
The smell of paella cooking is the best party invitation. People drift over with a drink to watch it cook. On the menu are churros, chicken and chorizo paella and tapas, and we are regularly asked to cater neighbourhood celebrations and milestone birthdays.
In a small place like The Haven, 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. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- The Haven (RH14)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
Venues frequently 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 will follow them.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Party venues around The Haven
The Haven is about 3 miles north of Billingshurst, in West Sussex. From the centre of The Haven to the outskirts, paella party catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from The Haven to Guildford (about 14 miles away).
Here we cover the RH14 postcode area, so your party can be anywhere in it. For parties just outside The Haven, we cover Five Oaks (1 mile south-east), Bucks Green (2 miles north), Slinfold (2 miles east), Rudgwick (2 miles north) and Tisman's Common (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (12 miles east), Horsham (5 miles east), Broadfield (11 miles east), Storrington (10 miles south), Billingshurst (3 miles south) and Bewbush (10 miles east).
A little further out are Horsham Hospital (5.3 miles east) and Christs Hospital School Museum (3.9 miles east).
- Local pubs include The Blue Ship Public House (within half a mile west)
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich stock, for the fish lovers.
Vegetable paella
Vegetarians get a real main course.
Nearby places to The Haven
More for events in The Haven
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Let the neighbours know
- Plan where rubbish goes
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Add a diet question to the invitation
The cooking area stays tidy and safe, with a clear space around the burners.
Tapas to start keep hunger at bay.
Live paella or other catering?
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. With live paella, you’re a guest too. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why The Haven hosts choose us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests usually gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. A summer party in The Haven stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- We check your 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.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Read more
Perfect for your party in The Haven
Any occasion works, from a first birthday to a ruby wedding.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Celebrations of life
- Milestone birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Street and neighbourhood parties
If guests are coming by rail, Billingshurst station is about 3.4 miles away.
Before you book anyone
- Whether travel is included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- What happens if it rains
- Exactly what’s included in the price
The Haven questions
Do you come out to small places like The Haven?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is The Haven close to London?
About 34 miles from central London.
What does paella party catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Can you supply crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know and we’ll add it to the quote.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The address or venue name
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and time of the event
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through 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