East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Hankham, East Sussex
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Hankham and East Sussex, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Summer garden parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering for Hankham events
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s usually the most photographed pan.
How our paella catering works in Hankham
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We’re frequently asked to cater anniversaries and engagement parties and milestone birthday parties, with seafood paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
In a hamlet or village like Hankham, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
- Location
- Hankham (BN24)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and time of the event
- Anything your venue supplies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Tell us what else is being served
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Why choose paella catering in Hankham?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
In Hankham and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Community events and fairs
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Hankham Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- Payment terms and deposit
- The venue requirements
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Travel and parking costs
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Common questions in Hankham
What’s the nearest station to Hankham for guests?
Pevensey & Westham station, about 1.4 miles south-east of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Luke's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can we choose the seafood?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Nearby places to Hankham
Also in Hankham
The process
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. Around midsummer it stays light in Hankham until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, 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.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hankham, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Live paella in Hankham: local details
Hankham is about 3 miles north of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. From the centre of Hankham to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Hankham is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. We cook right across the region, from Hankham to Brighton (19 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Pevensey & Westham station, about 1.4 miles south-east. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Luke's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Hankham is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Hankham is within about 5 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN24, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Hankham Road, Milton Street and Foords Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Hankham for paella catering include Blackness (1 mile south-west), Stone Cross (1 mile south), Polegate (2 miles west), Lower Willingdon (2 miles south-west) and Willingdon (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (3 miles south), Hastings (12 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles east), Seaford (9 miles west), Lewes (13 miles west) and Hailsham (3 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.9 miles south-west) and Pevensey Castle (1.7 miles east). The countryside around Hankham includes Combe Hill.
- Schools near Hankham include Causeway School (1.2 miles south)
- Nearby, you will find The Red Lion pub (0.6 miles south)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Events in Hankham and across East Sussex
- 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