East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in North Chailey, East Sussex
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in North Chailey and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday celebrations
Planning an event in North Chailey?
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Paella catering in North Chailey, made fresh on the day
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around North Chailey. Whether it is weddings and evening receptions and milestone birthday parties, we can cook seafood paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana.
For a rural spot like North Chailey, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- North Chailey (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Catering an event in North Chailey
North Chailey is about 4 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. Anywhere in BN8, we can bring the pans to you. We cater in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 11 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of Our Lady, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chailey Heritage School, can book us as a food stall. North Chailey is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in BN8 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on Station Road, Downs View and Downs View Close or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. With the A275 close by, North Chailey is simple for us to get to. Other places close to North Chailey for paella catering include Chailey (1 mile south), Newick (1 mile east), South Street (2 miles south), Founthill (2 miles east) and Scaynes Hill (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Seaford (15 miles south), Lewes (7 miles south), Hailsham (14 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (13 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Heaven Farm Museum (3.4 miles north) and Waterbury Castle (4.7 miles north). Not far away are Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
- Local schools include Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles south) and Chailey School (2.3 miles south)
North Chailey questions
Is North Chailey close to London?
Roughly 37 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What’s the nearest station to North Chailey for guests?
Plumpton station, about 3.6 miles south-west of the centre.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Around midsummer it stays light in North Chailey until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
Towns and villages near North Chailey
Also in North Chailey
Where we can cook in North Chailey
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you contact us. In general, we need:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s the pan people photograph.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
What paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The paellas you choose
- How long we’re needed on site
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Which courses you have in mind
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Who books paella catering in North Chailey?
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
In North Chailey and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Plumpton station, about 3.6 miles south-west.
Comparing caterers
- When final numbers are due
- Space, access and power needs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- A clear list of what’s included
- 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