East Sussex · England
Festival Paella Catering in Shortgate
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events makes the food a highlight of your event in Shortgate.
- Race days and sports events
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Country shows
Planning an event in Shortgate?
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 the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Shortgate
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Festival paella catering for your event in Shortgate
Big batches mean lunchtime rushes are easy. Each portion takes seconds to serve. On the menu are chicken and chorizo paella, churros and giant-pan paella, and typical bookings are for race days and sports events and school and charity events.
A fête near Shortgate might be on a field with no mains power; let us know and we will plan for it. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Shortgate (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, events in Shortgate stay light until about 9:15pm, which helps evening trading. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- 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 pack down and tidy the pitch.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us a contact for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
About the dishes
Vegan paella
Vegan paella cooked separately.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid for fish lovers.
Also near Shortgate
Also in Shortgate
Event catering near Shortgate
Shortgate is about 4 miles south of Uckfield, in East Sussex. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Shortgate and nearby villages. Shortgate is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. We cook right across the region, from Shortgate to Brighton (12 miles away).
Events in and around the South Downs National Park, within about 6 miles of Shortgate, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
We cater events across the BN8 postcode area and the streets around it. Nearby, we also cater events in Halland (1 mile north-east), East Hoathly (2 miles east), Whitesmith (2 miles east), Chiddingly (3 miles east) and Framfield (4 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (12 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south-west), Hailsham (7 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north) and Newhaven (9 miles south).
A little further out are Uckfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Tickerage Castle (4.1 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Give traders a single information pack
Our pitch is kept tidy and safe.
Catering for crew and VIP areas.
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Shortgate? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
What festival paella catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Timings and hours
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
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.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Where the event is
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
- Vehicle access before and after the event
- Clearance from tents and gazebos
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Giant paella pans
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
FAQs for Shortgate
Is Shortgate too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Shortgate for guests?
Uckfield station, about 3.9 miles north of the centre.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Do you come to Shortgate?
Yes, we do. Shortgate is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
- 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