East Sussex · England
Festival Paella Catering for Hellingly events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events for events in Hellingly.
- Festivals
- Race days and sports events
- VIP and hospitality areas
Festival paella catering for Hellingly events
Dishes our guests love
Vegan paella
Vegan paella cooked separately.
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels for fish lovers.
About our festival paella catering in Hellingly
Organisers can book us as a stall or as caterers for staff, crew, volunteers or VIP areas. We cook giant-pan paella, vegan paella and seafood paella, and typical bookings are for village fêtes and summer fairs and county and country shows.
Village fêtes and summer fairs around Hellingly are made for a paella stall. Tell us about the pitch, ground and access. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Hellingly (BN27)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. At midsummer, events in Hellingly stay light until about 9:15pm, so evening trading typically finishes in daylight in high summer. Winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- Tell us about the event and pitch.
- We send our menu, needs and paperwork.
- We arrive and set up at the agreed time.
- We cook in full view and serve all event.
- We pack down and tidy the pitch.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
Send us the date, your venue or BN27 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What festival paella catering costs
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Where the event is
- Diets and allergies you know about
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Places near Hellingly
Other catering in Hellingly
Community events around Hellingly
Hellingly is about 1 mile north of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Hellingly or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. Our events stretch from Hellingly to Brighton (about 17 miles away).
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Emmanuel, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. School fairs, for a school like Hawkes Farm Academy, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Within about 7 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
Anywhere in BN27, we can cook for your guests. Your event could be at a home on Station Road, Cheviot Street and Iris Close. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Upper Horsebridge (1 mile south-west), Lower Horsebridge (1 mile west), Magham Down (1 mile east), Hailsham (1 mile south) and Tile Hurst (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (7 miles south), Hastings (13 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (9 miles east), Seaford (10 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles west) and Crowborough (12 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Hellingly Hospital Railway (less than half a mile north) and Sussex Farm Museum (3.6 miles north).
- Schools near Hellingly include Hailsham Community College (1.2 miles south)
Questions from Hellingly
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.
Can you run a stall at a school fair in Hellingly?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Send us the date, pitch and expected numbers.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can we book you as a trader?
Tell us about your event, and we will confirm availability and requirements.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Check traders’ packaging and waste plans
- Check allergen info is on display
- Give traders a single information pack
- Ensure the line-up includes vegan and gluten-free options
Crew meals are served at set times.
Catering for crew and VIP areas.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want a trader that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Hellingly hosts choose us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Events in Hellingly and across East Sussex
- A clear, itemised quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Why choose festival paella catering in Hellingly?
Organisers book paella because it draws people into the food area.
Whatever you are celebrating in Hellingly, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- School and charity events
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
- Seasonal markets
- Sports club events
For visitors coming by rail, Polegate station is about 4.3 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- When final numbers are due
- How bad weather is handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Organising for someone else?
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
- 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