East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Forest Row
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Forest Row.
- Birthday celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
- Company summer parties
Live paella catering in Forest Row
Paella catering in Forest Row, cooked live
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Forest Row. Typical bookings include retirement and leaving parties and anniversaries and engagement parties, with vegan paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
There may be a hall or club near Forest Row if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Where
- Forest Row (RH18)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella or other catering?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Step by step
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Around midsummer it stays light in Forest Row until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Who books paella catering in Forest Row?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Forest Row book us for events such as:
- Summer garden parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Family celebrations and christenings
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Forest Row Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- Allergen information for each dish
- Travel and parking costs
- The deadline for final numbers
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Have seats for most of your guests
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
For event organisers in Forest Row
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Forest Row? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Live paella in Forest Row: local details
Forest Row is about 3 miles south-east of East Grinstead, in East Sussex. For an event in Forest Row, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover 289 places in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 19 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Standen (2.3 miles west) and Hammerwood Park (2.8 miles north-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is East Grinstead station, about 3.2 miles north-west. Forest Row is within about a mile of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in RH18 is planned around your venue. Local streets include Evelyn Clark Square, Station Road and London Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Close by, we cover events in Coleman's Hatch (1 mile east), Wych Cross (2 miles south), Upper Hartfield (2 miles east), Chelwood Gate (3 miles south) and Birchgrove (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Lewes (15 miles south), Crowborough (6 miles south-east), Uckfield (9 miles south), South Malling (15 miles south), Heathfield (13 miles south-east) and Southover (15 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include East Grinstead Museum (2.8 miles north-west) and Bolebroke Castle (3.6 miles north-east).
- Nearby schools include Greenfields School (0.9 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include Foresters Arms (under half a mile north)
Towns and villages near Forest Row
More for events in Forest Row
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Forest Row: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
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 it really cooked live?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, including East Sussex. See all areas.
How much space do you need?
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.
Do you bring everything you need?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
What affects the price in Forest Row
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Travel, parking and access
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Anything your venue supplies
- Which courses you have in mind
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
- 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