East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Meads
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Meads and across East Sussex.
- Company summer parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near Meads
Paella catering in Meads, cooked live
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is what we bring to events in Meads. Typical bookings include birthday celebrations and retirement and leaving parties, serving chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
Around Meads, events are frequently in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If access is tight, we’ll plan around it. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Meads (BN20, BN21)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Who books paella catering in Meads?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Milestone birthday parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Eastbourne station, about 1.1 miles north-east.
Comparing caterers
- When final numbers are due
- Staff numbers and hours
- What happens if it rains
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Also near Meads
Other catering in Meads
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Meads
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s the pan people photograph.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Evenings in Meads stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Tell us what else is being served
- Confirm allergies by email
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Catering an event in Meads
Meads is about 2 miles south of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Meads or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 289 places across East Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Meads to Brighton (about 18 miles away).
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Roedean Moira House, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St John the Evangelist, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Meads is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. The coast is within about 2 miles of Meads, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN20 and BN21, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Link Road, Mount Road and Cliff Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Meads, we cover Holywell (1 mile south-east), Old Town (1 mile north), Upperton (1 mile north), Eastbourne (2 miles north) and Ratton Village (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (15 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (14 miles north-west), Hailsham (7 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.1 miles north) and Rnli Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum (0.9 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Combe Hill.
- Local schools include St John's Meads Church of England Primary School (less than half a mile south-west) and Gildredge House (0.7 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Ship Inn (within half a mile south)
Common questions in Meads
Could we have live paella in Gildrege Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cook near the sea around Meads?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
What does paella catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Is live paella right for your event?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why book with us
- Catering across East Sussex, including Meads
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Planners, venues and businesses
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
- 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