East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Old Town, East Sussex
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Old Town: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Birthday celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
Book paella catering in Old Town
Paella catering for your event in Old Town
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. Whether it is weddings and evening receptions and company summer parties, we’ll put together a menu of black rice, mixed paella and paella Valenciana and more.
There may be a hall or club near Old Town if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Area
- Old Town (BN21, BN20, BN22)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Also near Old Town
What else we do in Old Town
How the day works
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Planning an evening event in Old Town? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- 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 it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us when you want to eat
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
What affects the price in Old Town
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Whether you need crockery
- How many guests are eating
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Which courses you have in mind
- The address or venue name
- What the venue already provides
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Where we can cook in Old Town
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Events we cater in Old Town
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Old Town:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Company summer parties
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Gildrege Park? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
What your quote should include
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- What happens if it rains
- Space, access and power needs
- VAT, if it applies
Live paella in Old Town: local details
Old Town is about 1 mile south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Old Town. We cater in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 18 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Eastbourne station is about 0.7 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Old Town, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Old Town is within about 2 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN21, BN20 and BN22, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Love Lane, Mill Road and Greys Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Old Town, we cover Upperton (1 mile east), Meads (1 mile south), Eastbourne (1 mile north-east), Holywell (1 mile south) and Ratton Village (1 mile north). Further out, we also cater in Hastings (15 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (13 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Eastbourne District General Hospital (1 mile north) and Pevensey Castle (4.4 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Combe Hill.
- Schools near Old Town include WMG Academy for Young Engineers (under half a mile south) and Motcombe Infants' School (within half a mile north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Lamb Inn (within half a mile east)
Common questions in Old Town
What’s the nearest station to Old Town for guests?
The closest is Eastbourne station, roughly 0.7 miles away.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Is live paella right for your event?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What you get with us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- We cover Old Town and the whole of East Sussex
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
For event organisers in Old Town
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
- 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