East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Horney Common, East Sussex
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Horney Common and East Sussex, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Birthday celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Staff parties and work lunches
Live paella catering in Horney Common
Paella catering in Horney Common, cooked live
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include festivals, fairs and school events and naming days and family parties, with black rice, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
Somewhere like Horney Common, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- Horney Common (TN22)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
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.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Who books paella catering in Horney Common?
There is no kitchen needed, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Company summer parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Buxted station, about 2.8 miles south-east.
Comparing caterers
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
- Who provides the crockery
- Allergen information for each dish
Planning live paella in Horney Common
Horney Common is about 3 miles north of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Events in Horney Common are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Horney Common to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Christ Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Horney Common is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, 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.
Paella catering in TN22 is planned around your venue and your guests. Local streets include Old Forge Lane and Tylers Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Close by, we cover events in Nutley (2 miles north-west), Duddleswell (2 miles north), Furner's Green (3 miles west), Chelwood Common (3 miles north-west) and Chelwood Gate (4 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Lewes (10 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (5 miles north-east), Uckfield (3 miles south), Newhaven (15 miles south) and Peacehaven (15 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Uckfield Community Hospital (3.5 miles south) and Tickerage Castle (4.3 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Brickfield Meadow.
- Nearby, you will find The Foresters Arms (0.6 miles north-east)
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The length of service
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
- Waiting and bar staff
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Towns and villages near Horney Common
Other catering in Horney Common
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s the pan people photograph.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Paella compared with other options
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. 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 will suggest a menu.
Why us?
- Drinks service on request
- Events in Horney Common and across East Sussex
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Where we can cook in Horney Common
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
How the day works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in Horney Common until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, 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.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Planning help
Horney Common questions
How far is Horney Common from London?
About 34 miles from central London.
What’s the nearest station to Horney Common for guests?
Buxted station, about 2.8 miles south-east of the centre.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Mention any other courses or food
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
- 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