Brighton and Hove · England
Live paella catering in Carlton Hill, Brighton and Hove
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Carlton Hill and across Brighton and Hove.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Company summer parties
Planning an event in Carlton Hill?
How our paella catering works in Carlton Hill
Paella is generous food: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. Typical bookings include summer garden parties and retirement celebrations, with chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella.
Around Carlton Hill, events are frequently in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Carlton Hill (BN2, BN1, BN50)
- Area hub
- Brighton and Hove
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Planning live paella in Carlton Hill
Carlton Hill is about 1 mile south of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Carlton Hill and the surrounding area. Carlton Hill is one of 30 places in Brighton and Hove we cover.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Carlton Hill Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Parks such as Queen's Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Carlton Hill is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Carlton Hill is within about a mile of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Paella catering in BN2, BN1 and BN50 is planned around your venue. We can cater an event on streets such as New Road, North Road and Brills Lane or the roads around them. Carlton Hill sits on or near the A259, which makes travel to your event easy. Other places close to Carlton Hill for paella catering include Hanover (1 mile north), Brighton (1 mile north), West Hill (1 mile north-west), Kemptown (1 mile south-east) and Seven Dials (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Brighton and Hove (3 miles west), Aldrington (3 miles west), Hangleton (3 miles north-west), Patcham (3 miles north), Westdene (3 miles north-west) and Saltdean (4 miles east). Carlton Hill is one of the larger places we cover in Brighton and Hove, with plenty of venues for events.
Nearby you’ll also find Sussex Eye Hospital (0.7 miles south-east) and Churchill Square (0.6 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Whitehawk Hill and Newmarket Hill.
- Nearby schools include Academy of Creative Training (less than half a mile south) and Brighton Girls (0.9 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find Devonshire Arms (within half a mile east)
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Planning an evening event in Carlton Hill? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- 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
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Carlton Hill hosts choose us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Real theatre, not just catering
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
Why choose paella catering in Carlton Hill?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Carlton Hill and Brighton and Hove:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Company summer parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
Nearby historic houses include Royal Pavilion (under half a mile west) and Preston Manor & Gardens (1.5 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether travel is included
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Working with your venue
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is usually the most photographed pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
What affects the price in Carlton Hill
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How long we’re needed on site
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- What the venue already provides
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The courses you’d like
- Roughly how many adults and children
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning the cooking area
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
Questions from Carlton Hill
Can you cook near the sea around Carlton Hill?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
How far is Carlton Hill from London?
About 47 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Do you cater in Carlton Hill?
We do. Carlton Hill is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Also in Carlton Hill
- 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