West Sussex · England
Wedding paella catering in Aldingbourne, West Sussex
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Aldingbourne: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Farm and barn venues
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Informal wedding breakfasts
Wedding paella catering for Aldingbourne events
A closer look at the menu
Evening paella
Fresh pans for evening guests, served quickly so the party keeps going.
Table tapas
Sharing tapas breaks the ice.
Wedding paella catering for your wedding in Aldingbourne
The smell of saffron and garlic drifting across a garden or barn has everyone looking forward to dinner. Typical bookings include relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts and food for evening guests, with table tapas, canapé tapas and a paella wedding breakfast.
Rural weddings around Aldingbourne have a magic of their own, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Aldingbourne (PO20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Events we cater in Aldingbourne
A sharing-style meal gets guests talking across the tables, which suits a relaxed wedding.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Aldingbourne, people book us for events such as:
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Sharing-style wedding meals
- Food for evening guests
Nearby historic houses include Goodwood House (3.2 miles north-west). If your reception is at a historic house or estate, ask early about its rules on caterers and live cooking.
What your quote should include
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Also near Aldingbourne
What else we do in Aldingbourne
What happens on the day
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it’s still served fresh. In Aldingbourne, midsummer sunset is about 9:20pm, and by late September it is nearer 7:05pm, so an evening paella for evening guests is generally served in daylight in high summer. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 4:00pm.
- We start with your date, venue, numbers and ideas.
- We plan a menu with you, course by course, and confirm a quote.
- We agree timings with you and your venue, including speeches and photos.
- On the day, we set up, cook in front of your guests and serve each course.
- We pack down our cooking area, with staff staying as long as agreed.
Before we arrive
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Live paella or other catering?
A plated wedding breakfast needs a kitchen and a large team. Paella needs a level, ventilated spot and permission, and feels more relaxed. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Aldingbourne: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Aldingbourne?
Barnham station, about 2.1 miles east of the centre.
We are having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Mary: 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 usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you come to Aldingbourne?
We do. We cook at events in Aldingbourne and across West Sussex. Send us your date to check availability.
Can we have a tasting?
Tell us you’d like a tasting when you enquire, and we will explain how it works.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Getting married in Aldingbourne?
Aldingbourne is about 3 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Weddings in Aldingbourne are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Aldingbourne to Brighton (about 24 miles away).
Couples marrying at local churches such as The Parish Church of St Mary often hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so it is ready as guests arrive. For guests travelling by train, Barnham station is about 2.1 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 8 miles of Aldingbourne, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue. With the coast within about 4 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. We’ll plan shelter from sea breezes.
We cater weddings across PO20 and the streets around it. We can cater a wedding on streets such as Hook Lane and Park Lane or the roads around them. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Nyton (1 mile east), Norton (1 mile north), Westergate (1 mile east), East Hampnett (1 mile north-west) and Crockerhill (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Worthing (13 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south), Chichester (4 miles west), Selsey (9 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles east) and Emsworth (11 miles west).
Nearby you’ll also find The Chichester City Museum (3.9 miles west) and Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (3.3 miles south).
- Local schools include Ormiston Six Villages Academy (1 mile east)
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Evening paella
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Whether you need crockery
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Guest numbers
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in Aldingbourne? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
- 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