East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Iford, East Sussex
Looking for paella catering in Iford? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Big birthdays
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
Paella catering for Iford events
Common questions in Iford
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Which station should guests use for Iford?
Lewes station, about 1.7 miles north-east of the centre.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
How much does paella catering cost in Iford?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
Paella catering in Iford, made fresh on the day
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. On the menu are chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for anniversaries and engagement parties and weddings and evening receptions.
Somewhere as small as Iford, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Location
- Iford (BN7)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Also in Iford
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Occasions we cook for in Iford
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Birthday celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Christenings and family gatherings
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Railway Land? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- Whether travel is included
- The deposit and payment dates
- If the price includes VAT
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is often the first pan to empty.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
What paella catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- How long we’re needed on site
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The venue or postcode
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Iford hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests typically gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Iford until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
Catering an event in Iford
Iford is about 2 miles south of Lewes, in East Sussex. From the centre of Iford to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Iford is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Lewes station, about 1.7 miles north-east. Iford is within about 2 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Iford is within about 6 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Paella catering in BN7 is planned around your venue. Other places close to Iford for paella catering include Kingston near Lewes (1 mile north-west), Northease (1 mile south-east), Rodmell (1 mile south-east), Southover (2 miles north-east) and Lewes (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (14 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south-east), Hailsham (12 miles east), Uckfield (10 miles north-east), Newhaven (5 miles south-east) and Peacehaven (4 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Lewes Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club Museum (3.3 miles west). Not far away are Offham Hill and Southerham Farm.
- Nearby schools include Priory School (1.7 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Juggs Arms Public House (0.7 miles north-west)
- Other local spots include Kingston Urban (1.2 miles north)
- 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