East Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Cousley Wood events
Planning paella catering in Cousley Wood? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Retirement celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near Cousley Wood
How our paella catering works in Cousley Wood
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. We’re frequently asked to cater weddings and evening receptions and office lunches and staff parties, serving paella Valenciana, seafood paella and vegan paella.
Somewhere like Cousley Wood, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- Cousley Wood (TN5)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Perfect for your event in Cousley Wood
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Summer garden parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Wadhurst station, about 2.1 miles west.
Before you book anyone
- Space, access and power needs
- How long the team stays
- Travel and parking costs
- When payment is due
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Your questions about paella catering in Cousley Wood
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Cousley Wood close to London?
About 35 miles from central London.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Which paella is most popular?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Are premium seafood options available?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Nearby places to Cousley Wood
More for events in Cousley Wood
How the day works
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. In Cousley Wood, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Tell us when you want to eat
Ask for a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Cousley Wood: venues, travel and local tips
Cousley Wood is about 6 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in East Sussex. Wherever your event is in the TN5 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Cousley Wood to Brighton (27 miles away).
Historic houses near Cousley Wood include Wadhurst Castle (1.6 miles south-west) and Scotney Castle (2.3 miles north-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Rehoboth Chapel, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Cousley Wood. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the TN5 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater events in Newbury's (1 mile north-west), Pell Green (1 mile south-west), Wadhurst (2 miles south-west), Birchett's Green (2 miles south-east) and Shover's Green (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Hailsham (15 miles south), Crowborough (9 miles west), Uckfield (14 miles south-west), Heathfield (9 miles south-west), Upper Horsebridge (15 miles south) and Hellingly (14 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Ticehurst House Hospital (2.5 miles south-east) and Old Scotney Castle (2.4 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Bewl Water.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Old Vine Public House (within half a mile south-west)
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
- How many staff you need
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Your date and when you want to eat
- What the venue already provides
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Cousley Wood, and we will put together a menu and price.
- 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