West Sussex · England
Wedding paella catering in Handcross, West Sussex
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Handcross: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Sharing-style wedding meals
- Weddings with lots of dietary needs
Planning an event in Handcross?
Dishes our guests love
Table tapas
Tapas set out on every table to share, from bravas to croquetas and Manchego.
Evening paella
A second round of paella for the evening, quick to serve and filling.
How our wedding paella catering works in Handcross
Paella as evening food is popular: it is hot, filling and quick to serve, so evening guests are fed and the dancing carries on. Whether it’s rustic barn weddings and evening food for extra guests, we can cook evening paella, Spanish desserts and table tapas.
Near Handcross, weddings are often in fields, barns or gardens. That’s exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen needed, just a level, sheltered spot. Tell us about lanes, gates and ground conditions. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Handcross (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Send us the running order and speech times
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
Guests can queue at the pans, or staff can serve the tables, whichever suits your day.
Canapé tapas with the drinks reception keep guests going during photos.
Handcross weddings: local tips
Handcross is about 4 miles south of Crawley, in West Sussex. Across the RH17 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cook in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Handcross to Brighton (16 miles away).
Put the station on your invitation: the nearest station is Balcombe station, about 2.8 miles east. For outdoor photos, Tilgate Lake is close by, and the countryside around Handcross suits an outdoor reception.
Wherever your wedding is in RH17, we can cook for your guests. We can cater a wedding on streets such as High Street, London Road and Windmill Platt. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Slaugham (1 mile south), Plummers Plain (2 miles south-west), Colgate (3 miles north-west), Broadfield (3 miles north) and Lower Beeding (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (4 miles north), Horsham (5 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-east), East Grinstead (10 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Crawley Hospital (4.3 miles north). Open spaces near Handcross include Tilgate Lake and Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
- Local schools include Handcross Park School (0.5 miles north)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Royal Oak Public House (under half a mile south-west)
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, sunset in Handcross is about 9:20pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:50pm, and in late September about 7:05pm.
- We start with your date, venue, numbers and ideas.
- We plan a menu with you, course by course, and confirm a quote.
- Timings are agreed with you and the venue, around speeches and photos.
- On the day, we set up, cook in front of your guests and serve each course.
- We clear our cooking area, and staff stay as agreed.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
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Perfect for your wedding in Handcross
Couples choose paella because it feels relaxed and generous, and guests talk about it afterwards.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Parties after a register office wedding
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
- Evening wedding food
If you’re marrying at a church near Handcross, such as All Saints, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Space, access and power needs
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Planning the cooking area
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Sangria & bar staff
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
- Canapé tapas
- Dessert
Handcross questions
Do you come out to small places like Handcross?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Handcross close to London?
About 31 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
What if our speeches run late?
It happens. The rice goes in at the last sensible moment, so it’s served at its best.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Handcross.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Live paella or other catering?
A buffet can leave food sitting out. Paella is served hot from the pan. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Live cooking, not reheated food
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- How long we’re needed on site
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many guests are eating
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Expected numbers
- The courses you’d like
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
- 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