East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Hastings
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 turns food into part of your event in Hastings.
- Big birthdays
- Anniversary celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
Planning an event in Hastings?
About our paella catering in Hastings
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 summer garden parties and family celebrations and christenings, with vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
There’s no shortage of venues in Hastings, from hotels and function rooms to big back gardens. Whichever you choose, the cooking spot just needs to be level and ventilated, and it helps to know about parking in the town centre. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Hastings (TN34, TN38, TN37, TN35)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
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.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
The process
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Around midsummer it stays light in Hastings until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
What affects the price in Hastings
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Parking and unloading
- Whether you need crockery
- Your choice of paellas
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hastings, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Send allergies to us in writing
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Drinks service on request
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Fast service from the pan
- We cover Hastings and the whole of East Sussex
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Catering an event in Hastings
Hastings is in East Sussex. Events in Hastings are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Hastings is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Hastings to Brighton (30 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Alexandra Park? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. 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. Hastings is within about 2 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Paella catering in TN34, TN38, TN37 and TN35 is planned around your venue. Streets in the area include London Road, Church Road and Upper Church Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Hastings sits on or near the A21 and A28, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. If your venue is just outside Hastings, we also cover Silverhill (1 mile west), Blacklands (1 mile east), St Helen's (1 mile north-east), Hollington (1 mile north-west) and St Leonards (1 mile south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (13 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (4 miles west), Hailsham (13 miles west), Polegate (14 miles west), Old Town (15 miles south-west) and Heathfield (15 miles north-west). Being one of East Sussex’s larger places, Hastings has lots of places to hold an event.
A little further out are Conquest Hospital (1.2 miles north) and Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (1.1 miles south-east). Not far away are Senlac Hill and Church Wood and Robsack Wood.
- Nearby schools include William Parker Sports College (0.6 miles north-east) and University School (0.9 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Duke pub (within half a mile north-west)
Who books paella catering in Hastings?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
For guests coming by train, St Leonards Warrior Square station is about 0.9 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- The deadline for final numbers
- Who provides the crockery
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Hastings questions
Can you cook near the sea around Hastings?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Which station should guests use for Hastings?
The closest is St Leonards Warrior Square station, roughly 0.9 miles away.
How many paellas should we have?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
How does live paella catering work?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Nearby places to Hastings
More for events in Hastings
- 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