East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Filching
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Filching: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Naming days and family parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering for Filching events
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Somewhere close to park and unload
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Paella catering in Filching, cooked live
Paella is generous food: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. Whether it is leaving dos and retirements and company summer parties, we can cook mixed paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
In a hamlet or village like Filching, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Area
- Filching (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Catering an event in Filching
Filching is about 3 miles north-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Tell us where your event in Filching will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We cover all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 16 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of Saint Peter, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Polegate station, about 1.5 miles north-east. The South Downs National Park is within about 3 miles of Filching, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Filching is within about 4 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cook at events all over BN26. Other places close to Filching for paella catering include Wannock (1 mile north-east), Folkington (1 mile north-west), Lower Willingdon (1 mile east), Willingdon (1 mile east) and Polegate (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (3 miles south-east), Hastings (15 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles east), Seaford (5 miles west), Lewes (11 miles north-west) and Hailsham (4 miles north).
A little further out are Burlough Castle (2.5 miles west) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.3 miles south-east). The countryside around Filching includes Combe Hill.
- Nearby schools include Willingdon Community School (0.9 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Eight Bells Inn (0.8 miles south-west)
Places near Filching
More for events in Filching
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Filching 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.
- Send us 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.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Common questions in Filching
What’s the nearest station to Filching for guests?
The closest is Polegate station, roughly 1.5 miles away.
Is Filching too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
What is live paella catering?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Paella compared with other options
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Filching hosts choose us
- We cover Filching and the whole of East Sussex
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
See How we price Or The cost guide.
How we price paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many guests are eating
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Travel, parking and access
- How many staff you need
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Put allergy details in writing
- Ensure each pan is labelled
A short rest after cooking helps, and that is when we invite guests up.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Occasions we cook for in Filching
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Summer garden parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Willingdon Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Comparing caterers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Allergen information for each dish
- Payment terms and deposit
- Who provides the 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