East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Ripe
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Ripe. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering in Ripe
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Mention any other courses or food
- Give us separate numbers for children
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Paella catering in Ripe, made fresh on the day
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there is very little waste, and the food is served hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. Whether it’s milestone birthday parties and community events and fairs, we’ll put together a menu of mixed paella, paella Valenciana and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
In a small place like Ripe, 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 a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Ripe (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Before you choose a spot
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
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
Also in Ripe
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Who books paella catering in Ripe?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Ripe and East Sussex:
- Community events and fairs
- Retirement celebrations
- Company summer parties
- Milestone birthday parties
For guests coming by train, Berwick (Sussex) station is about 2.2 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- The deadline for final numbers
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether travel is included
How the day works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell typically draws people over. In Ripe, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Ripe, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning help
Ripe: venues, travel and local tips
Ripe is about 5 miles west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. For paella catering in Ripe, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Ripe. Ripe is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Ripe to Brighton (about 12 miles away).
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Nearby historic houses include Charleston Farmhouse (2.3 miles south-west) and Firle Place (2.9 miles south-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Ripe is within about 5 miles of the South Downs National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN8, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Carriage Mews, Channers Lane and Church Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Selmeston (2 miles south), Wickstreet (2 miles south-east), Laughton (2 miles north), Golden Cross (2 miles north-east) and Berwick (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (8 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south), Lewes (6 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles east) and Crowborough (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Hellingly Hospital Railway (5.1 miles east) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Firle Beacon.
- Pubs nearby include Lamb Inn (under half a mile north-west)
FAQs for Ripe
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St John the Baptist: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Ripe for guests?
The closest is Berwick (Sussex) station, roughly 2.2 miles away.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
How we price paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Travel, parking and access
- How long we’re needed on site
- The number of people
- How many staff you need
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
- 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