East Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Alciston events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Alciston: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Paella catering for Alciston events
How our paella catering works in Alciston
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will recommend what fits your event. We’re frequently asked to cater anniversary celebrations and community events and fairs, with mixed paella, seafood paella and vegan paella.
In a hamlet or village like Alciston, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Alciston (BN26)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
The process
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. Around midsummer it stays light in Alciston until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Alciston? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Also near Alciston
Also in Alciston
For event organisers in Alciston
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Why choose live paella in Alciston?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Fast service from the pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Perfect for your event in Alciston
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Milestone birthday parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, Berwick (Sussex) station is about 1.3 miles away.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The deadline for final numbers
- Allergen information for each dish
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Paella catering around Alciston
Alciston is about 4 miles north of Seaford, in East Sussex. Across the BN26 area, we can bring the pans to you. Alciston is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Alciston to Brighton (12 miles away).
Historic houses near Alciston include Charleston Farmhouse (1.3 miles north-west) and Alfriston Clergy House (2 miles south-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The South Downs National Park is within about 2 miles of Alciston, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Alciston is within about 5 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
For paella catering in BN26, we plan around your venue and your guests. If your venue is just outside Alciston, we also cover Selmeston (1 mile north), Berwick (1 mile north-east), Winton (1 mile south-east), Alfriston (2 miles south-east) and Milton Street (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (4 miles south), Lewes (7 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north-east) and Crowborough (15 miles north).
A little further out are Arlington Castle (1.7 miles south-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (4.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Firle Beacon.
- Local pubs include Rose Cottage Inn (less than half a mile west)
Alciston questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Do you cater in Alciston?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Alciston is within our area. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
How we price paella catering
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Send us the date, your venue or BN26 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Tell us what else is being served
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
- 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