East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Piddinghoe, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Piddinghoe. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Garden get-togethers
- Community events and fairs
- Company summer parties
Book paella catering in Piddinghoe
Paella catering in Piddinghoe, cooked live
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own. Typical bookings include office lunches and staff parties and festivals, fairs and school events, serving vegan paella, mixed paella and vegetable paella.
Somewhere like Piddinghoe, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Area
- Piddinghoe (BN9)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Planning live paella in Piddinghoe
Piddinghoe is about 1 mile north-west of Newhaven, in East Sussex. From the centre of Piddinghoe to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Piddinghoe is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Piddinghoe to Brighton (about 7 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Newhaven Town station is about 1.2 miles away. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St John, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Piddinghoe is within about 5 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 4 miles of Piddinghoe, 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 BN9, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Brookside and Lewes Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Piddinghoe for paella catering include South Heighton (1 mile east), Denton (1 mile east), Telscombe (2 miles west), Rodmell (2 miles north-west) and Northease (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (11 miles east), Seaford (4 miles south-east), Lewes (5 miles north), Hailsham (10 miles east), Uckfield (11 miles north) and Polegate (9 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Planet Earth Museum (0.8 miles south-east) and Lewes Castle (4.7 miles north). Not far away are Itford Hill and Southerham Farm.
- Local schools include UTC@Harbourside (1.2 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Jolly Boatman pub (0.8 miles south-east)
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is 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 Piddinghoe? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Request clear labels at the serving table
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Timings and hours
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The date and rough timings
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Who books paella catering in Piddinghoe?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Community events and fairs
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Historic houses near Piddinghoe include Monk's House (2.3 miles north) and Firle Place (3.5 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Before you book anyone
- The deposit and payment dates
- The venue requirements
- The wet-weather plan
- Who provides the crockery
Towns and villages near Piddinghoe
What else we do in Piddinghoe
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Before you choose a spot
We will be honest if a space will not work. What matters most:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Piddinghoe questions
What’s the nearest station to Piddinghoe for guests?
Newhaven Town station, about 1.2 miles south-east of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Piddinghoe?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Why choose live paella in Piddinghoe?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Events in Piddinghoe and across East Sussex
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- 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