East Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Hadlow Down events
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hadlow Down and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Birthday celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Live paella catering in Hadlow Down
Questions from Hadlow Down
We are having a ceremony at St Mark's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like Hadlow Down?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Paella catering in Hadlow Down, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Hadlow Down. We cook mixed paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for garden parties and summer barbecues and big birthdays.
For a rural spot like Hadlow Down, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Hadlow Down (TN22)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in Hadlow Down until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Get a quote
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Hadlow Down? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Organising for someone else?
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’ll work to it.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Perfect for your event in Hadlow Down
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Hadlow Down and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Company summer parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Buxted station, about 2.1 miles west.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- VAT, if it applies
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Put allergy details in writing
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Places near Hadlow Down
More for events in Hadlow Down
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
How we price paella catering
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How long we’re needed on site
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
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.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The venue or postcode
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Catering an event in Hadlow Down
Hadlow Down is about 4 miles south of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Hadlow Down, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cover all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Hadlow Down to Brighton (about 18 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Mark's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Mark's Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Hadlow Down is within about 4 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in TN22, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on Waghorns Lane, School Lane and St Marks Field. Close by, we cover events in Etchingwood (2 miles south-west), Buxted (2 miles west), Potter's Green (2 miles south-west), Blackboys (2 miles south) and Framfield (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (15 miles south), Lewes (11 miles south-west), Hailsham (10 miles south), Crowborough (4 miles north), Uckfield (4 miles south-west) and Newhaven (15 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (3.8 miles north) and Tickerage Castle (2.3 miles south-west). Not far away are Selwyns Wood.
- 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