East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Flimwell, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Flimwell. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Company summer parties
Live paella catering in Flimwell
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
About our paella catering in Flimwell
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it is served straight from the pan. Whether it is staff parties and work lunches and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we will put together a menu of mixed paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
In a small place like Flimwell, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Flimwell (TN5)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Live paella or other catering?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why Flimwell hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
How the day works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Evenings in Flimwell stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Flimwell: your questions answered
Is Flimwell too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
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 will work to whatever the site needs.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Paella catering around Flimwell
Flimwell is about 10 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in East Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Flimwell, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Flimwell is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 29 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Scotney Castle (3.1 miles north-west) and Wadhurst Castle (5 miles west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Augustine's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Flimwell, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in TN5, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From High Street, London Road and Corner Farm Close or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Flimwell sits on or near the B2087, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. We also cook at events in Stonecrouch (2 miles north-west), Ticehurst (2 miles west), Three Leg Cross (2 miles west), Cooper's Corner (2 miles south-east) and Bedgebury Cross (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (14 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south), Hailsham (15 miles south-west), Crowborough (12 miles west), St Leonards (14 miles south) and Hastings Old Town (15 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Ticehurst House Hospital (2 miles west) and Finchcocks Musical Museum (3.5 miles north). The countryside around Flimwell includes Bewl Water.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Make sure each pan is labelled
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we generally call guests over.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Nearby places to Flimwell
Other catering in Flimwell
What affects the price in Flimwell
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- The paellas you choose
- Guest numbers
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Which courses you have in mind
- Where the event is
- What the venue already provides
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Who books paella catering in Flimwell?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
In Flimwell and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Company summer parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Etchingham station, about 3 miles south.
What your quote should include
- When final numbers are due
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The venue requirements
- How bad weather is handled
- 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