East Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in Lower Dicker, East Sussex
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Lower Dicker.
- Summer fairs and fêtes
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Community events and open days
Planning an event in Lower Dicker?
Festival paella catering in Lower Dicker, cooked live
A paella stall covers several diets at once: separate meat, seafood and vegan pans. That simplifies your food line-up. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and giant-pan paella, and we’re often booked for festivals and open days and community events.
At a fête or field event near Lower Dicker, a paella stall brings a hot, filling meal to a rural site. Ground conditions and access matter, so tell us about them. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Lower Dicker (BN27)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Lower Dicker events: pitches and permissions
Lower Dicker is about 2 miles north-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Lower Dicker or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Lower Dicker is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cook. Our events stretch from Lower Dicker to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like Hellingly Community Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Running a fête for a church like Zoar Strict Baptist Chapel? A paella pan draws people in. Events in and around the South Downs National Park, within about 7 miles of Lower Dicker, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we work to the site rules.
We cover events in every part of BN27. Whether your event is on Hackhurst Lane, Diamond Drive and Court Lodge Close or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Lower Horsebridge (1 mile east), Nash Street (1 mile north-west), Tile Hurst (1 mile south-east), Upper Dicker (1 mile south-west) and Upper Horsebridge (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Hastings (15 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles east), Seaford (9 miles south-west), Lewes (9 miles west) and Crowborough (12 miles north).
A little further out are Sussex Farm Museum (3.5 miles north) and Hellingly Hospital Railway (1.8 miles east).
- Local schools include Bede's Prep School (1.4 miles south-west) and Hailsham Community College (2 miles south-east)
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Put picnic tables near the traders
Pans cook in full view, and serve from the pan throughout the event.
Crew, volunteer and VIP catering.
How the day works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Evening events in Lower Dicker have light until about 9:15pm at midsummer; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- You send us the event, dates and pitch details.
- We confirm our menu, pitch needs and documents.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- Pans cook in full view and we serve throughout the event.
- We clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Occasions we cook for in Lower Dicker
It handles peak times well, thanks to big-batch cooking.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Lower Dicker and East Sussex:
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- Sports clubs and race days
- Music and food festivals
- Agricultural and county shows
For visitors coming by rail, Berwick (Sussex) station is about 3.9 miles away.
Questions to ask before you book
- Staff numbers and hours
- Space, access and power needs
- What the price includes, item by item
- How late numbers can change
Lower Dicker: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Lower Dicker?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Lower Dicker from London?
About 45 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What does festival paella catering cost?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
The menu, dish by dish
Giant paella pans
A pan the size of a cartwheel, full of saffron rice, cooking in full view.
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is a festival favourite.
Nearby places to Lower Dicker
What else we do in Lower Dicker
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Room for our cooking and serving area
- Vehicle access to the pitch at set-up and break-down
- Clear information on power, water and waste
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Lower Dicker
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Giant paella pans
- Churros
Why choose live paella in Lower Dicker?
Not every trader covers vegans. A paella stall can have a vegan pan alongside the rest. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
What festival paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How long we are needed on site
- How many staff you need
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The address or venue name
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
- 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