East Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Etchingwood events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Etchingwood: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Milestone birthday parties
Live paella catering in Etchingwood
FAQs for Etchingwood
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is Etchingwood close to London?
About 37 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How much does paella catering cost in Etchingwood?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
About our paella catering in Etchingwood
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We are often asked to cater festivals, fairs and school events and weddings and evening receptions, serving mixed paella, black rice and vegan paella.
For a rural spot like Etchingwood, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Etchingwood (TN22)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Where we can cook in Etchingwood
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Planning live paella in Etchingwood
Etchingwood is about 2 miles north-east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Etchingwood and the surrounding area. Etchingwood is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cook. Our events stretch from Etchingwood to Brighton (16 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Buxted station, about 0.9 miles north-west. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Uckfield College, can book us as a food stall. Etchingwood is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in TN22, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Nearby, we also cater events in Potter's Green (1 mile north-west), Buxted (1 mile north-west), Framfield (1 mile south-west), Blackboys (1 mile south-east) and Hadlow Down (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (15 miles south-east), Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (10 miles south-west), Hailsham (9 miles south-east), Crowborough (5 miles north) and Newhaven (14 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Uckfield Community Hospital (2.2 miles south-west) and Tickerage Castle (0.9 miles south). Not far away are Selwyns Wood.
- Pubs nearby include The Buxted Inn (0.8 miles north-west)
Towns and villages near Etchingwood
Other catering in Etchingwood
Live paella or other catering?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What you get with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Drinks service on request
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
Read How we price And The cost guide.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Put allergy details in writing
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Occasions we cook for in Etchingwood
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Etchingwood, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Community events and fairs
- Garden get-togethers
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Comparing caterers
- How each diet is kept separate
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
- The venue requirements
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell normally draws people over. In Etchingwood, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get 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, use our quote form.
Read more
- 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