Brighton and Hove · England
Live paella catering in Falmer, Brighton and Hove
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Falmer.
- Community events and fairs
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Big birthdays
Book paella catering in Falmer
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is the pan people photograph.
About our paella catering in Falmer
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field. On the menu are vegan paella, mixed paella and black rice, and we are often booked for staff parties and work lunches and garden get-togethers.
For a rural spot like Falmer, 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 bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Falmer (BN1)
- Area hub
- Brighton and Hove
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Who books paella catering in Falmer?
It needs no kitchen, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversary celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
Nearby historic houses include Preston Manor & Gardens (3.5 miles south-west) and Anne of Cleves House (3.6 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What to look for in a quote
- How bad weather is handled
- When payment is due
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- What the price includes, item by item
Why choose live paella in Falmer?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Falmer hosts choose us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Organising a club, school or community event in Falmer? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Make sure each pan is labelled
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Falmer: venues, travel and local tips
Falmer is about 3 miles north-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Whether your event is in the middle of Falmer or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 30 places in Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St Lawrence, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Parks such as Stanmer Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The South Downs National Park is within about 4 miles of Falmer, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Falmer is within about 5 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cater events across the BN1 postcode area. From Middle Street, Park Street and Mill Street or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to Falmer for paella catering include Kingston near Lewes (2 miles east), Iford (3 miles east), Ovingdean (3 miles south), Rottingdean (3 miles south) and Roedean (3 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Brighton (3 miles south-west), Brighton and Hove (5 miles west), Hove (5 miles south-west), Carlton Hill (4 miles south-west), Hanover (3 miles south-west) and West Hill (4 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club Museum (within half a mile south-west) and Lewes Castle (3.8 miles east). Open spaces near Falmer include Bevendean Down and Newmarket Hill.
- Local pubs include The Swan Inn (under half a mile west)
- Other local spots include University of Sussex Library (0.5 miles west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
How it works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Planning an evening event in Falmer? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
Also in Falmer
Common questions in Falmer
Can you cook in Stanmer Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Lawrence: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
- 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