East Sussex · England
Festival Paella Catering for Friar's Gate events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Friar's Gate. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
Festival paella catering in Friar's Gate
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
About our festival paella catering in Friar's Gate
The cooking is part of the show. People stop, watch and come back to eat. For school and charity events and sports club events, we can cook vegan paella, churros and seafood paella for your guests.
A fête near Friar's Gate might be on a field with no mains power; tell us what’s available and we’ll plan around it. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Area
- Friar's Gate (TN6)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Hot-cabinet food lacks theatre. A huge pan cooking in view sells itself. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Friar's Gate
- Events in Friar's Gate and across East Sussex
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Towns and villages near Friar's Gate
What else we do in Friar's Gate
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. For an evening event in Friar's Gate, sunset is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- Tell us about the event, the crowd and the pitch.
- We reply with our menu, prices for visitors and requirements.
- We send the documents the event asks for.
- On the day, the pans are on before the busiest hours.
- At close, we pack down and tidy up.
How to prepare
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Should I cook it myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Friar's Gate: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Friar's Gate?
The closest is Eridge station, roughly 3 miles away.
Is Friar's Gate close to London?
About 31 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Do you have vegan options at events?
Absolutely. The vegan pan is cooked separately.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Provide seating near the food
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Check traders’ packaging and waste plans
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
Pans cook in full view, and serve from the pan throughout the event.
Bowls and forks for eating on the go.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- A level pitch on firm ground
- Your trader pack and site rules
- Spacing from tents and other structures
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we offer
- Churros
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The address or venue name
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
About the dishes
Vegan paella
Vegan visitors get a real meal.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A crowd-pleaser for meat eaters.
Friar's Gate events: pitches and permissions
Friar's Gate is about 2 miles north-west of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Anywhere in TN6, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Friar's Gate to Brighton (20 miles away).
Running a fête for a church like St John's Church? A paella pan draws people in. School fairs, for a school like St John's Church of England Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Events in and around the High Weald National Landscape, within about 5 miles of Friar's Gate, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
We cater events across TN6 and the streets around it. If your venue is just outside Friar's Gate, we also cover Marden's Hill (1 mile south-east), Chuck Hatch (1 mile west), Crowborough (2 miles south-east), Steel Cross (2 miles east) and Mott's Mill (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Lewes (15 miles south-west), Hailsham (15 miles south), Uckfield (7 miles south), South Malling (14 miles south), Heathfield (9 miles south-east) and Southover (15 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Bolebroke Castle (3.4 miles north) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (1.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Friar's Gate includes Crowborough Country Park.
- Local schools include Beacon Academy (2 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Half Moon Inn (under half a mile north)
- 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