East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Lunsford's Cross
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Lunsford's Cross.
- Birthday celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering near Lunsford's Cross
Paella catering in Lunsford's Cross, cooked live
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Lunsford's Cross. For milestone birthday parties and garden parties and summer barbecues, we can cook vegan paella, mixed paella and black rice.
In a small place like Lunsford's Cross, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Where
- Lunsford's Cross (TN39)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Lunsford's Cross: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Lunsford's Cross?
The closest is Collington station, roughly 2.3 miles away.
Could we have live paella in Highwoods?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Can we choose the seafood?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Do you cater in Lunsford's Cross?
Yes, we do. Lunsford's Cross is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Can you feed a lot of people?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Lunsford's Cross.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
About the dishes
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Also near Lunsford's Cross
What else we do in Lunsford's Cross
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Count adults and children separately
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
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.
Occasions we cook for in Lunsford's Cross
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Lunsford's Cross:
- Big birthdays
- Company summer parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Community events and fairs
Parks such as Highwoods usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether travel is included
- What happens if it rains
- Who provides the crockery
- VAT, if it applies
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Lunsford's Cross? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
How we price paella catering
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Timings and hours
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The courses you’d like
- The venue or postcode
- The date and time of the event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Lunsford's Cross, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning live paella in Lunsford's Cross
Lunsford's Cross is about 2 miles north-west of Bexhill-on-Sea, in East Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Lunsford's Cross. Lunsford's Cross is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Lunsford's Cross to Brighton (about 25 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Collington station is about 2.3 miles away. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Ninfield Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
We cover events in every part of the TN39 postcode area. Being close to the A269, Lunsford's Cross is easy for us to reach. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Watermill (1 mile east), Russell's Green (1 mile west), Hooe Common (1 mile west), Ninfield (1 mile north-west) and Sidley (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (9 miles south-west), Hastings (5 miles east), Hailsham (8 miles west), St Leonards (5 miles east), Polegate (9 miles west) and Hastings Old Town (7 miles east).
A little further out are Bexhill Hospital (2.1 miles south-east) and Herstmonceux Castle (4.4 miles west). Not far away are Gillham Wood and Senlac Hill.
- Schools near Lunsford's Cross include Bexhill High Academy (1.3 miles south-east)
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Planning an evening event in Lunsford's Cross? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
- 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