Brighton and Hove · England
Paella Catering for Hollingbury events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Hollingbury and across Brighton and Hove.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Community events and fairs
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Planning an event in Hollingbury?
Paella catering in Hollingbury, made fresh on the day
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is what we bring to events in Hollingbury. Whether it is naming days and family parties and birthday celebrations, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana.
In and around Hollingbury, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Area
- Hollingbury (BN1)
- County
- Brighton and Hove
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Tell us what else is being served
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Working with your venue
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Hollingbury hosts choose us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
FAQs for Hollingbury
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
We are having a ceremony at Fountain Centre: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Planning live paella in Hollingbury
Hollingbury is about 2 miles north of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Across the BN1 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Hollingbury is one of 30 towns and villages in Brighton and Hove where we cook.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Carden Nursery and Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Fountain Centre, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Hollingbury is within about 5 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Hollingbury is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Wherever your event is in BN1, we can bring paella catering to you. Your event could be at a home on Keymer Road, Warmdene Road and Carden Avenue. Other places close to Hollingbury for paella catering include Patcham (1 mile west), Withdean (1 mile south-west), Hollingdean (1 mile south), Preston (1 mile south-west) and Westdene (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in Brighton and Hove (3 miles south-west), Hove (3 miles south-west), Brunswick (3 miles south), Kemptown (3 miles south), Whitehawk (3 miles south-east) and Aldrington (3 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Brighton General Hospital (2.1 miles south) and Churchill Square (2.6 miles south). Open spaces near Hollingbury include Ladies Mile and Ditchling Beacon.
- Schools near Hollingbury include The Dharma Primary School (0.5 miles north-west) and Patcham High School (0.6 miles west)
- Local pubs include County Oak pub (less than half a mile north-east)
- Other local spots include University of Sussex Library (1.9 miles east)
Towns and villages near Hollingbury
More for events in Hollingbury
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. In Hollingbury, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, 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.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
What paella catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Travel, parking and access
- How many guests are eating
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and time of the event
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
- 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