East Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Chailey events
Planning paella catering in Chailey? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Company summer parties
Paella catering in Chailey
Chailey questions
Which station should guests use for Chailey?
The closest is Plumpton station, roughly 3.1 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like Chailey?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Paella catering for your event in Chailey
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s what we bring to events in Chailey. For weddings, from canapés to evening food and big birthdays, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, mixed paella and seafood paella.
In a hamlet or village like Chailey, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Chailey (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Chailey: venues, travel and local tips
Chailey is about 5 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. Across the BN8 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cater in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 10 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St Peter, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Plumpton station, about 3.1 miles south-west. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Chailey, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in BN8, we can cook for your guests. Nearby, we also cater events in North Chailey (1 mile north), South Street (1 mile south-west), Newick (1 mile north-east), Founthill (1 mile east) and South Chailey (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (12 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Princess Royal Hospital (4.1 miles north-west). Open spaces near Chailey include Blackcap and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Chailey Heritage School (1.2 miles north-west) and Chailey School (1.6 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Five Bells Inn (0.5 miles south-west)
What else we do in Chailey
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Chailey? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Why choose paella catering in Chailey?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
- Leaving dos and retirements
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Before you book anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- When payment is due
- How each diet is kept separate
- How late numbers can change
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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Confirm allergies by email
- Request clear labels at the serving table
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
The process
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. In Chailey, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Planning paella catering in Chailey? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Planning help
What affects the price in Chailey
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- Guest numbers
- How long we are needed on site
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Where the event is
- The courses you’d like
- Expected numbers
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Chailey
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
- 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