West Sussex · England
Wedding paella catering in River, West Sussex
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food turns food into part of your wedding in River.
- Civil partnerships and vow renewals
- Rustic barn weddings
- Garden and marquee weddings
Wedding paella catering in River
Wedding paella catering for your wedding in River
We can cater your whole wedding day or one part of it: canapés, a tapas starter, a paella wedding breakfast, evening food and dessert. Typical bookings include weddings with lots of dietary needs and civil partnerships and vow renewals, with a paella wedding breakfast, evening paella and canapé tapas.
Near River, weddings are frequently in fields, barns or gardens. That is exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen needed, just a level, sheltered spot. Tell us about lanes, gates and ground conditions. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Where
- River (GU28)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Choose pan-side or table service
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Count day and evening guests separately
- Ask whether your venue allows outside caterers
The pans are often set up where guests can see them, and it makes a great photo.
A table tapas starter gets everyone sharing.
Dishes our guests love
Desserts
Spanish desserts from churros to crema catalana.
Table tapas
Sharing tapas breaks the ice before the paella arrives.
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your wedding. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. In River, midsummer sunset is about 9:20pm, and by late September it’s nearer 7:05pm, so an evening paella for evening guests is normally served in daylight in high summer. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it’s dark by about 4:00pm.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm everything with your venue.
- Guests watch the paella cook during the reception.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your wedding, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Other catering in River
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Canapé tapas
- Evening paella
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
Live paella or other catering?
Buffets can mean food sitting for a while. Paella goes straight from pan to plate. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why us?
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Wedding venues and ceremonies near River
River is about 12 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. For wedding paella catering in River, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around River. River is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 17 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Petworth House (2.4 miles east) and Cowdray House (3.1 miles west). Historic houses and estates often have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that’s your venue. For outdoor photos, Graffham Common is close by, and the countryside around River suits an outdoor reception. With the South Downs National Park within about 4 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
We cater weddings across GU28. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Upperton (1 mile east), Selham (2 miles south), Tillington (2 miles south-east), South Ambersham (2 miles south-west) and Hampers Green (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (14 miles south), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (14 miles south-east), Rustington (15 miles south-east), Storrington (11 miles south-east) and Billingshurst (9 miles east).
A little further out are Lodsworth Castle (1.3 miles south) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (3 miles south-east). Open spaces near River include Graffham Common and Blackdown.
- Pubs nearby include The Hollist Arms Public House (0.7 miles west)
What affects the price in River
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Guest numbers
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Whether you need crockery
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- What the venue already provides
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
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.
Questions from River
Do you come out to small places like River?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is River close to London?
About 42 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including River.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Perfect for your wedding in River
It is a natural fit for barns, marquees and gardens, where plated meals are harder.
Whatever you’re celebrating in River, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Farm and barn venues
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
- Informal wedding breakfasts
If you’re marrying at a church near River, such as The Parish Church of St Peter, 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.
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- The deadline for final numbers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- 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