West Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Tilgate events
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Tilgate. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Christenings and naming days
- Family reunions
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Planning an event in Tilgate?
Paella party catering in Tilgate, cooked live
You get to be a guest at your own party: no shopping, prep or cooking. The food is our job. We cook tapas, churros and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are frequently booked for retirement and leaving parties and anniversary celebrations.
Around Tilgate, a garden and a gazebo is all you need. Live paella fits right in. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Location
- Tilgate (RH10, RH11)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Tilgate parties: what to know
Tilgate is about 1 mile south-east of Crawley, in West Sussex. Parties in Tilgate are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cook in 371 places in West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 19 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Crawley station is about 0.6 miles away. Historic houses near Tilgate include Tyes Place (4.6 miles south). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler.
Paella party catering in RH10 and RH11 is planned around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include York Road, Nash Road and Cook Road, and we can cook for a party on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Southgate (1 mile west), Crawley (1 mile north-west), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east), Maidenbower (1 mile east) and West Green (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Horsham (7 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (6 miles west).
A little further out are County Mall (0.7 miles north-west) and Crawley Hospital (1.2 miles north-west). The countryside around Tilgate includes Tilgate Lake.
- Nearby schools include Three Bridges Junior School (0.5 miles north-west) and Thomas Bennett Community College (0.6 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Grasshopper pub (less than half a mile south)
Towns and villages near Tilgate
Also in Tilgate
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A photo of the garden helps us check the space
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Churros
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
What paella party catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The number of people
- How many courses
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The courses you’d like
- Roughly how many adults and children
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your party, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Your questions about paella party catering in Tilgate
Can you cook in Tilgate Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
We’re having a ceremony at Holy Trinity: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
When should I book?
The sooner the better, but it’s always worth asking. Send your date and we’ll check.
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Sunset in Tilgate is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- Send us your date, address and numbers.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We arrive before your guests and set up.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
Why choose paella party catering in Tilgate?
It works for all ages and diets, from children to grandparents.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Big birthdays
- Garden get-togethers
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Thinking of a party in Tilgate Park? Cooking in a public park typically needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first.
What your quote should include
- The deposit and payment dates
- How bad weather is handled
- How long the team stays
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Hog roasts don’t suit vegetarians and vegans. Paella covers everyone with separate pans. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why Tilgate hosts choose us
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
- Catering across West Sussex, including Tilgate
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Tilgate? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Warn the neighbours
- Make sure children stay back from the pans
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Plan where rubbish goes
The cooking area stays tidy and safe, with a clear space around the burners.
Sangria sets the mood, with an alcohol-free version for drivers and children.
- 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