East Sussex · England
Festival Paella Catering in Northiam
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events for events in Northiam and across East Sussex.
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- Village fêtes
- Country shows
Book festival paella catering in Northiam
About our festival paella catering in Northiam
We arrive with our equipment and follow the site rules, from arrival times to waste. For community events and open days and sports clubs and race days, we will put together a menu of giant-pan paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
At a fête or field event near Northiam, we can bring hot food to a rural site. Ground conditions and access matter, so tell us about them. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Northiam (TN31)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Trader information and site rules
- Firm, level ground
- A pitch away from tents and structures
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
The process
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell generally draws people over. For an evening event in Northiam, sunset is about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Send us your event details and pitch information.
- We confirm menu, pitch needs and documents.
- We set up on time.
- We cook and serve throughout.
- We clear and leave the pitch clean.
Preparing for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Read more
What’s in the pans
Giant paella pans
It’s the huge pan people come to see.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Popular with families.
Community events around Northiam
Northiam is about 9 miles north of Hastings, in East Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Northiam or on the outskirts, festival paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in 289 places across East Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Northiam to Canterbury (about 28 miles away).
Within about 8 miles is the High Weald National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
For festival paella catering in TN31, we plan around your venue and your guests. From Station Road, Main Street and Elizabeth Gardens or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Northiam is on the A268, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Northiam, we also cover Beckley (2 miles south-east), Beckley Furnace (3 miles south), Broad Oak (3 miles south), Flackley Ash (3 miles east) and Broadland Row (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Hastings (9 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles south-west), St Leonards (10 miles south), Hastings Old Town (10 miles south), Belmont (10 miles south) and Heathfield (15 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include The C.M Booth Collection (4 miles north). The countryside around Northiam includes Flatropers Wood.
- Pubs nearby include Hayes Arms Hotel (0.5 miles south)
What affects the price in Northiam
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- The paellas you choose
- Timings and hours
- Parking and unloading
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The address or venue name
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote.
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. 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. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Northiam: your questions answered
Do you trade at school fairs around Northiam?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Send us the date, pitch and expected numbers.
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Will there be long queues?
Big batches and service from the pan keep things moving.
Do you need power?
Send pitch details and we will confirm.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Where do you cater?
We cover London and the South East, East Sussex included. See all areas.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Places near Northiam
Also in Northiam
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Some traders struggle with vegan and gluten-free options. A paella stall can have a vegan pan alongside the rest. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Check how many portions traders can serve
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Check allergen info is on display
- Book crew catering in advance
We set up at the agreed time, following your trader pack.
Extra pans for busy periods.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
- 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