Brighton and Hove · England
Paella Catering for Aldrington events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Aldrington.
- Community events and fairs
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering in Aldrington
Paella catering in Aldrington, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are vegan paella, mixed paella and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for big birthdays and festivals, fairs and school events.
For a place the size of Aldrington, your own garden is often the best venue: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
- Area
- Aldrington (BN3, BN41, BN42)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Places near Aldrington
More for events in Aldrington
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Confirm allergies by email
- Count adults and children separately
- Ask for labels on each pan
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Your questions about paella catering in Aldrington
We’re having a ceremony at St Philip's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Aldrington close to London?
About 46 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
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.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
Occasions we cook for in Aldrington
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Aldrington, people book us for occasions like:
- Birthday celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Parks such as Hove Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Questions to ask before booking
- Space, access and power needs
- The wet-weather plan
- The deposit and payment dates
- Allergen information for each dish
Live paella in Aldrington: local details
Aldrington is about 1 mile south-west of Brighton and Hove, in Brighton and Hove. Give us the address of your event in Aldrington, and we’ll plan access and set-up. We cater in all 30 towns and villages in Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Portslade station, about 0.6 miles north-west. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Philip's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Aldrington is within about 8 miles of the South Downs National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Aldrington is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Paella catering in BN3, BN41 and BN42 is planned around your venue. Whether your event is on Wish Road, Saxon Road and Roman Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Brighton and Hove (1 mile north-east), Hove (1 mile east), West Blatchington (1 mile north-east), Brunswick (2 miles east) and Prestonville (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Brighton (3 miles east), Carlton Hill (3 miles east), Hanover (3 miles east), Kemptown (3 miles east), Hollingdean (3 miles east) and Whitehawk (4 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Montefiore Hospital (1.7 miles east) and British Engineerium (1.2 miles north-east). Open spaces near Aldrington include Shoreham Beach and Thundersbarrow Hill.
- Schools near Aldrington include Hove Park School (0.9 miles north-east) and The Drive Prep School (1.2 miles east)
- Nearby, you will find The Gather Inn (under half a mile south-west)
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Why choose live paella in Aldrington?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What you get with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
How it works
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in Aldrington stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- 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