East Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in East Hoathly, East Sussex
Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in East Hoathly: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Community events and open days
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Festivals
Planning an event in East Hoathly?
Festival paella catering in East Hoathly, cooked live
Nothing draws a festival crowd like a huge paella. The sight and smell of it cooking brings people over, and service from the pan is fast. Typical bookings include village fêtes and farmers’ and Christmas markets, with seafood paella, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
For a village fête or field event near East Hoathly, we can bring hot food to a rural site. Tell us about the ground and access. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Location
- East Hoathly (BN8)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Check how many portions traders can serve
- Ask traders about packaging and waste
- Book crew catering in advance
- Put picnic tables near the traders
Allergen details are available at the stall.
A vegan pan alongside the meat and seafood pans.
A closer look at the menu
Giant paella pans
It is the giant pan people come to see.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella is always popular.
East Hoathly events: pitches and permissions
East Hoathly is about 4 miles south-east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Tell us where your event in East Hoathly will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cook in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex. Our events stretch from East Hoathly to Brighton (14 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like East Hoathly CofE Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as The Parish Church, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. Events in and around the South Downs National Park, within about 8 miles of East Hoathly, often have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we work to the site rules.
Here we cover the BN8 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include High Street, London Road and Rectory Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside East Hoathly, we also cover Halland (1 mile west), Whitesmith (1 mile south), Chiddingly (2 miles south-east), Shortgate (2 miles west) and Blackboys (3 miles north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (11 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (11 miles south), Lewes (8 miles south-west), Hailsham (6 miles south-east) and Crowborough (9 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Sussex Farm Museum (3.5 miles east) and Tickerage Castle (3.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Selwyns Wood.
- Nearby, you’ll find Foresters Arms (less than half a mile south-west)
How the day works
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. At midsummer, events in East Hoathly stay light until about 9:15pm, so evening trading generally finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Tell us about the event and pitch.
- We confirm menu, pitch needs and documents.
- We set up on time.
- We cook in full view and serve all event.
- We clear and leave the pitch clean.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Burger and hot dog stalls are familiar but similar. Paella adds something different. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in East Hoathly
- Catering across East Sussex, including East Hoathly
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
What festival paella catering costs
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Timings and hours
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Where the event is
- Which courses you have in mind
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Who books festival paella catering in East Hoathly?
Organisers book paella because it draws people into the food area and serves them fast.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in East Hoathly and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Sports club events
- Community events and open days
- Charity and school events
- VIP and hospitality areas
For visitors coming by rail, Uckfield station is about 4.2 miles away.
Questions to ask before you book
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether VAT is included
- What happens if it rains
- Allergen information for each dish
Common questions in East Hoathly
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
How far is East Hoathly from London?
Roughly 41 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
What does festival paella catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you feed our volunteers?
Yes, timed to your schedule. Send us numbers and times.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Towns and villages near East Hoathly
What else we do in East Hoathly
- 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