East Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in South Chailey, East Sussex
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in South Chailey.
- Food and music festivals
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
- Seasonal markets
Book festival paella catering in South Chailey
Fairs, fêtes and events in South Chailey
South Chailey is about 4 miles north of Lewes, in East Sussex. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in South Chailey and nearby villages. We cover all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. Our events stretch from South Chailey to Brighton (about 9 miles away).
If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Chailey School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Within about 5 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
For festival paella catering in BN8, we plan around your venue and your guests. Your event could be at a home on Mill Brooks, Whitegates Close and Brickyard Lane. Other places close to South Chailey for festival paella catering include South Street (1 mile north), Chiltington (1 mile south), Chailey (2 miles north-east), East Chiltington (2 miles south-west) and Plumpton Green (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Seaford (13 miles south-east), Lewes (4 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (11 miles north-east), Uckfield (6 miles east) and Newhaven (11 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Lewes Castle (4.8 miles south) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (4.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Blackcap and Malling Down.
- Pubs nearby include Swan Public House (within half a mile south-east)
How our festival paella catering works in South Chailey
Big batches mean lunchtime rushes are easy. Each portion takes seconds to serve. On the menu are vegan paella, seafood paella and churros, and we’re regularly asked to cater summer fairs and fêtes and agricultural and county shows.
Near South Chailey, events may be far from shops and cafés, so a paella stall is a welcome sight. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Area
- South Chailey (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose live paella in South Chailey?
Most stalls cook to order. Paella is batch-cooked and served fast, keeping queues short. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
Towns and villages near South Chailey
Also in South Chailey
Common questions in South Chailey
Do you come out to small places like South Chailey?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is South Chailey from London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can you trade at our festival or fair?
Tell us about your event, and we will reply with our availability and what we need.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Provide seating near the food
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Plan for vegan and gluten-free visitors
At the end, we clear the pitch and leave it clean.
A vegan pan alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Dishes our guests love
Vegan paella
Vegan paella cooked separately.
Giant paella pans
It is the giant pan people come to see.
Events we cater in South Chailey
It brings theatre to the food court.
Here are some of the events we cook for in South Chailey and East Sussex:
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Festivals
- Open days
- School and charity events
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Plumpton station, about 1.7 miles south-west.
Comparing caterers
- How each diet is kept separate
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether travel is included
- Who provides the crockery
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
How it works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh. Evening events in South Chailey have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Tell us about the event, the crowd and the pitch.
- We reply with our menu, prices for visitors and requirements.
- Paperwork goes over in good time.
- We time the first pans for the lunchtime rush.
- When trading ends, the pitch is cleared and left clean.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
- Firm, level ground
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
On the menu in South Chailey
- Giant paella pans
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Churros
Working with your venue
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
- 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