Brighton and Hove · England
Paella Catering in Kemptown
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 makes the food a highlight of your event in Kemptown.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Retirement celebrations
- Community events and fairs
Paella catering near Kemptown
Paella catering in Kemptown, cooked live
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. Whether it is leaving dos and retirements and garden parties and summer barbecues, we will put together a menu of seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice.
Around Kemptown, events are often in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If access is tight, we’ll plan around it. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Area
- Kemptown (BN2)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many guests are eating
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The length of service
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Planning the cooking area
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
Catering an event in Kemptown
Kemptown is about 1 mile south-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Tell us where your event in Kemptown will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cook in all 30 towns and villages in Brighton and Hove.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St George's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Nearby historic houses include Royal Pavilion (1 mile west) and Preston Manor & Gardens (2.3 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Kemptown is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. The coast is within about a mile of Kemptown, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Anywhere in BN2, we can bring paella catering to you. Whether your event is on Abbey Road, Manor Road and Eastern Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to Kemptown for paella catering include Whitehawk (1 mile north-east), Carlton Hill (1 mile north-west), Hanover (1 mile north-west), Brighton (1 mile north-west) and West Hill (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Brighton and Hove (3 miles north-west), Hove (3 miles west), Aldrington (3 miles west), Withdean (3 miles north-west), Hangleton (4 miles north-west) and Patcham (4 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Brighton and Hove, Kemptown has lots of places to hold an event.
Well-known places in the area include Brighton Motor Museum (less than half a mile south-west) and Churchill Square (1.4 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Newmarket Hill and Whitehawk Hill.
- Local schools include St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School (less than half a mile north) and Brighton Girls (1.7 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include Saint George's Inn (within half a mile north-west)
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Count adults and children separately
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Who books paella catering in Kemptown?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Kemptown:
- Big birthdays
- Garden get-togethers
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Retirement celebrations
For guests coming by train, Brighton station is about 1.3 miles away.
What your quote should include
- What happens if it rains
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How long the team stays
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Nearby places to Kemptown
More for events in Kemptown
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Kemptown: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues 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.
Which station should guests use for Kemptown?
Brighton station, about 1.3 miles north-west of the centre.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
Do you come to Kemptown?
We do. We cook at events in Kemptown and across Brighton and Hove. Send us your date to check availability.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that’s what it is made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
What happens on the day
On the day, 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. Planning an evening event in Kemptown? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up 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.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
- 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