East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Friston, East Sussex
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Friston and East Sussex, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Milestone birthday parties
Book paella catering in Friston
Why choose paella catering in Friston?
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’.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Retirement celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Eastbourne station, about 3.2 miles east.
Before booking anyone
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Allergen information for each dish
How our paella catering works in Friston
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is what we bring to events in Friston. For weddings and evening receptions and family celebrations and christenings, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, black rice and vegan paella and more.
In and around Friston, gardens and local halls are common choices. If access is tight, we will plan around it. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Friston (BN20)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Places near Friston
More for events in Friston
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Parking and unloading
- How many staff you need
- How many guests are eating
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- Which courses you have in mind
- The venue or postcode
- Your date and when you want to eat
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Is live paella right for your event?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What you get with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read How we price And The cost guide.
Paella catering around Friston
Friston is about 4 miles south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Friston and nearby villages. We cook in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 16 miles away.
Historic houses near Friston include Alfriston Clergy House (3.7 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Friston is within about 4 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. The coast is within about 4 miles of Friston, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Here we cover the BN20 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Dene Side, Dene Close and Michel Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Close by, we cover events in East Dean (1 mile south-west), Birling Gap (1 mile south), Jevington (2 miles north), Old Town (3 miles east) and Meads (3 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (4 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles north-east), Seaford (4 miles west), Lewes (12 miles north-west), Hailsham (7 miles north) and Uckfield (15 miles north).
A little further out are Eastbourne District General Hospital (3 miles north-east) and Filching Manor And Motor Museum (3 miles north). The countryside around Friston includes Combe Hill.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Tiger Inn (within half a mile south-west)
Before you choose a spot
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Friston
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
How the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Friston until about 9:15pm; 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Related guides
Questions from Friston
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Friston? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
- 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