West Sussex · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Cross Gate events
Treat your guests to live paella at your wedding in Cross Gate. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
Wedding paella catering near Cross Gate
About our wedding paella catering in Cross Gate
Paella has a natural rhythm: once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and it’s best served right away. We time it around your speeches and photos. On the menu are Spanish desserts, table tapas and evening paella, and typical bookings are for sharing-style wedding meals and weddings with a Spanish theme.
Rural weddings around Cross Gate have a magic of their own, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Cross Gate (BN18)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Details that help
The more we know about your wedding, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Any dietary needs and allergies
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.
Places near Cross Gate
Other catering in Cross Gate
Cross Gate questions
Is Cross Gate too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Will you talk to our venue?
Of course. We’ll speak to your venue about access and timings.
What if photos overrun?
We adapt. We keep in touch with your venue on the day and time the rice so it’s served at its best.
Is paella too casual for a wedding?
With the right presentation, it feels special: canapés, tapas, crockery and table service.
The menu, dish by dish
Paella wedding breakfast
Two or three paellas, served from the pans or brought to the tables, with bread and salad.
Evening paella
A second round of paella for the evening, served quickly so the party keeps going.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Tell us how many evening guests to expect
- Put us in touch with your venue
Fresh pans can be cooked for evening guests, generally timed after the first dance.
Add sangria, or bar staff to serve your own drinks.
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
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.
Perfect for your wedding in Cross Gate
It works as a wedding breakfast or evening food, so it’s flexible.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Cross Gate, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Food for evening guests
- Parties after a register office wedding
- Farm and barn venues
- Blessings and vow renewals
Put the station on your invitation: the nearest station is Amberley station, about 1.5 miles south-west.
What to look for in a quote
- A clear list of what’s included
- If the price includes VAT
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How late numbers can change
Why choose live paella in Cross Gate?
A plated wedding breakfast needs a kitchen and a large team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission, and feels more relaxed. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why book with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Cross Gate weddings: local tips
Cross Gate is about 7 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Wherever your wedding is in the BN18 area, we can cook for your guests. We cook in 371 places in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 18 miles away.
Amberley Wild Brooks nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos, and the countryside around Cross Gate suits an outdoor reception. Planning photos in Parham Park? It is worth checking the park’s rules first. The South Downs National Park is within about a mile of Cross Gate, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules.
Here we cover the BN18 postcode area. For weddings just outside Cross Gate, we cover Rackham (1 mile east), Amberley (1 mile south-west), Bury (2 miles west), Coldwaltham (2 miles north-west) and Watersfield (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Amberley Museum (1.4 miles south-west) and Amberley Castle (1 mile west). Not far away are Bignor Hill and Amberley Wild Brooks.
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. For a summer wedding in Cross Gate, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, which means evening paella is typically served in daylight in June and July. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- Send us your wedding date, venue and numbers.
- Together we plan each course.
- We agree timings with you and your venue.
- We cook live on the day and serve each course.
- We clear our area; staff stay as booked.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Evening paella
- Sangria & bar staff
- Table tapas
- Dessert
- 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