East Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in Chiddingly, East Sussex
Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Chiddingly: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- County and country shows
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
Planning an event in Chiddingly?
About our festival paella catering in Chiddingly
Few street foods pull a crowd like a giant paella pan. People follow the smell, and portions are served quickly from the pan. Typical bookings include seasonal markets and charity and school events, with vegan paella, giant-pan paella and churros.
A fête near Chiddingly might be on a field with no mains power; tell us what’s available and we will plan around it. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Chiddingly (BN8)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Occasions we cook for in Chiddingly
It adds theatre to a food line-up.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Chiddingly, people book us for events such as:
- Food and music festivals
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Seasonal markets
- School and charity events
School fairs, for a school like Chiddingly Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
Before you book anyone
- When payment is due
- How bad weather is handled
- If the price includes VAT
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Nearby places to Chiddingly
Other catering in Chiddingly
Chiddingly events: pitches and permissions
Chiddingly is about 4 miles north-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Events in Chiddingly are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Chiddingly is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 15 miles away.
Running a fête for a church like The Parish Church? A paella pan draws people in. For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 4.7 miles south. Within about 8 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
Festival paella catering in BN8 is planned around your venue. Nearby, we also cater events in Whitesmith (1 mile west), East Hoathly (2 miles north-west), Halland (3 miles north-west), Shortgate (3 miles west) and Blackboys (4 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (9 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (8 miles west), Hailsham (4 miles south-east) and Crowborough (10 miles north).
A little further out are Sussex Farm Museum (2.8 miles north-east) and Tickerage Castle (4.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Selwyns Wood.
- Pubs nearby include The Six Bells Public House (under half a mile north)
For event organisers in Chiddingly
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Provide seating near the food
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
We arrive at the agreed time and set up our pitch.
Churros and tapas can join the menu.
A closer look at the menu
Giant paella pans
A pan the size of a cartwheel, full of saffron rice.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A crowd-pleaser for meat eaters.
Common questions in Chiddingly
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
What’s the nearest station to Chiddingly for guests?
Berwick (Sussex) station, about 4.7 miles south of the centre.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Can you cook indoors?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Will there be long queues?
Service from the pan is fast, which suits busy periods.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Is live paella right for your event?
For a stall that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Chiddingly hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Evening events in Chiddingly have light until about 9:15pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- It starts with your event details and pitch information.
- We confirm our menu, pitch needs and documents.
- We arrive at the agreed time to set up the pitch.
- We cook in front of the crowd and serve from the pan all event.
- At the end, we clear our pitch.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
How we price festival paella catering
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Which courses you have in mind
- The address or venue name
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and time of the event
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in 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