East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Friar's Hill, East Sussex
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Friar's Hill: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Planning an event in Friar's Hill?
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. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
About our paella catering in Friar's Hill
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. Once it is ready, we serve it hot from the pan. Popular choices include vegan paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for big birthdays and community events and fairs.
Somewhere like Friar's Hill, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Location
- Friar's Hill (TN35)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and normally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. There is 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.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- We cover Friar's Hill and the whole of East Sussex
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
How it works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Around midsummer it stays light in Friar's Hill until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Give us a contact for the day
Get a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
Organising for someone else?
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
Live paella in Friar's Hill: local details
Friar's Hill is about 4 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. Events in Friar's Hill are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Friar's Hill is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Friar's Hill to Canterbury (33 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Laurence's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Three Oaks station is about 1.4 miles away. Friar's Hill is within about 4 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
For paella catering in TN35, we plan around your venue and timings. From Pett Road, Friars Bank and Chapel Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Guestling Green (1 mile north-west), Guestling (1 mile west), Fairlight (1 mile south), Bachelor's Bump (1 mile south-west) and Pett (1 mile east). Further out, we also cater in Hastings (4 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles west), St Leonards (4 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (3 miles south-west), Belmont (3 miles south-west) and Langney (15 miles south-west).
A little further out are Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (3.4 miles south-west) and Conquest Hospital (3.1 miles west). The countryside around Friar's Hill includes Church Wood and Robsack Wood.
- Local schools include Buckswood School (0.9 miles north-west) and The Hastings Academy (1.2 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Hope Public House (0.5 miles north-west)
What affects the price in Friar's Hill
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- How long we are needed on site
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The date and rough timings
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Where the event is
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Planning paella catering in Friar's Hill? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Towns and villages near Friar's Hill
Also in Friar's Hill
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Confirm allergies by email
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we generally call guests over.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
FAQs for Friar's Hill
What’s the nearest station to Friar's Hill for guests?
Three Oaks station, about 1.4 miles north-west of the centre.
Can you cook in Speckled Wood?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Do you come to Friar's Hill?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Friar's Hill and the rest of East Sussex. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
- 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