East Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Lewes events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Lewes. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Company summer parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella catering for Lewes events
Paella catering in Lewes, made fresh on the day
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We cook mixed paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are frequently booked for wedding breakfasts and evening food and naming days and family parties.
Most events in a town like Lewes are in gardens, halls with outdoor space or hired venues. All of them work, as long as there is a level spot to cook and somewhere close to park. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Lewes (BN7, BN8, BN6, RH15)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Lewes questions
How far is Lewes from London?
Roughly 43 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cook in Railway Land?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Can you feed a lot of people?
Yes, that is what it is made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you cater in Lewes?
Yes, we do. Lewes is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
Places near Lewes
What else we do in Lewes
Events we cater in Lewes
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Big birthdays
- Anniversary celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Anne of Cleves House (0.6 miles south) and Glyndebourne (2.6 miles east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Comparing caterers
- VAT, if it applies
- Allergen information for each dish
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- When payment is due
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. In Lewes, the sun sets at about 9:15pm 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Name one person we can ask on the day
How to get a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Lewes? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Lewes: venues, travel and local tips
Lewes is about 7 miles north-east of Brighton, in East Sussex. Events in Lewes are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 289 places in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 7 miles away.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Railway Land? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St John sub Castro, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The South Downs National Park is within about a mile of Lewes, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN7, BN8, BN6 and RH15. Whether your event is on Market Lane, Market Street and High Street or a nearby road, we can cook there. Being close to the A26 and A275, Lewes is easy for us to reach. Neighbouring places where we cater events include South Malling (1 mile north-east), Southover (1 mile south-east), Cliffe (1 mile east), Offham (1 mile north-west) and Hamsey (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (8 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south). Being one of East Sussex’s larger places, Lewes has lots of places to hold an event.
A little further out are Lewes Castle (under half a mile south) and St John under the Castle Lewes (within half a mile north). Not far away are Offham Hill and Malling Down.
- Local schools include St Pancras Catholic Primary School (less than half a mile south-west) and Priory School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include Elephant and Castle pub (within half a mile south-east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
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.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Put allergy details in writing
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- We cover Lewes and the whole of East Sussex
- A quote that spells everything out
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
- 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