West Sussex · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Hickstead events
We cook paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food across Hickstead and West Sussex, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Farm and barn venues
- Weddings with mixed diets
- Blessings and vow renewals
Wedding paella catering in Hickstead
How our wedding paella catering works in Hickstead
Evening paella is a favourite: it’s hot, filling and quick to serve, so evening guests are fed and the dancing carries on. On the menu are canapé tapas, a paella wedding breakfast and Spanish desserts, and we’re frequently booked for farm and barn venues and weddings with mixed diets.
Rural weddings around Hickstead have a magic of their own, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- Hickstead (RH17, BN6)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Common questions in Hickstead
What’s the nearest station to Hickstead for guests?
The closest is Burgess Hill station, roughly 3.1 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Can you feed our photographer and band?
Yes, include them in your numbers. Let us know when they need feeding.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Do you cover Hickstead?
We do. Hickstead is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Do you cook inside?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
The menu, dish by dish
Paella wedding breakfast
A choice of paellas, served at the pans or to the tables, with bread and salad.
Canapé tapas
Canapé tapas fill the gap before the meal, without spoiling appetites.
Nearby places to Hickstead
More for events in Hickstead
Paella compared with other options
A buffet can leave food sitting out. Paella is served hot from the pan. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Events in Hickstead and across West Sussex
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Hickstead
Hickstead is about 3 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Whether your wedding is in the middle of Hickstead or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 10 miles away.
Historic houses near Hickstead include Ockenden Manor (3.4 miles north-east) and Tyes Place (5 miles north). If your reception is at a historic house or estate, ask early about its rules on caterers and live cooking. For outdoor photos, Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve is close by. With the South Downs National Park within about 5 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
We cook at weddings all over RH17 and BN6 and the streets around it. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Goddards Green (1 mile east), Sayers Common (1 mile south), Abbotsford (2 miles east), Ansty (2 miles north-east) and Hurstpierpoint (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (9 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (3 miles east) and East Grinstead (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are The Dene Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Clayton Castle (4.6 miles south-east). Open spaces near Hickstead include Wolstonbury Hill and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Hickstead include St Paul's Catholic College (1.8 miles east)
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Include any suppliers you are feeding
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Give us separate day and evening numbers
- Share your running order, including speeches
We normally set up where guests can watch, and it makes a great photo.
Canapé tapas with the drinks reception keep guests going during photos.
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. At midsummer, sunset in Hickstead is about 9:20pm, so we can time the evening paella 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 build the menu course by course and send a quote.
- We fit our timings around your speeches, photos and venue.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- A cooking spot outside the marquee, not inside it
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Hickstead
- Table tapas
- Canapé tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Evening paella
- Paella wedding breakfast
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What wedding paella catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
- Your choice of paellas
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Expected numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Which courses you have in mind
Planning wedding paella catering in Hickstead? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just use 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