East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Cross in Hand
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Cross in Hand and East Sussex, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Leaving dos and retirements
Planning an event in Cross in Hand?
About our paella catering in Cross in Hand
A couple of different pans covers everyone: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. On the menu are chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for milestone birthday parties and anniversaries and engagement parties.
Somewhere as small as Cross in Hand, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated.
- Location
- Cross in Hand (TN21)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Where we can cook in Cross in Hand
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- How many courses
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The courses you’d like
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is often the first pan to empty.
Your questions about paella catering in Cross in Hand
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Cross in Hand close to London?
About 39 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you come to Cross in Hand?
Yes, we do. Cross in Hand is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
How much does paella catering cost in Cross in Hand?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Places near Cross in Hand
Other catering in Cross in Hand
For event organisers in Cross in Hand
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Catering an event in Cross in Hand
Cross in Hand is about 5 miles east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Tell us where your event in Cross in Hand will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cook in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Cross in Hand to Brighton (18 miles away).
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Cross-in-Hand Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Parks such as Passingworth Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Cross in Hand. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in TN21, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Fir Grove Road, Windmill Place and Dads Hill or a nearby road, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Roser's Cross (1 mile south-west), Waldron (1 mile south-west), Heathfield (2 miles east), Sandy Cross (2 miles south-east) and Lions Green (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (13 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-east), Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (11 miles south-west), Hailsham (8 miles south) and Crowborough (6 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Sussex Farm Museum (2.8 miles south) and Tickerage Castle (2.9 miles west). The countryside around Cross in Hand includes Selwyns Wood.
Events we cater in Cross in Hand
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Cross in Hand and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Staff parties and work lunches
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Buxted station, about 3.9 miles west.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The venue requirements
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch while it cooks. Around midsummer it stays light in Cross in Hand until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Read more
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why Cross in Hand hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- No hidden extras in your quote
Take a look at Our prices page Or 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