East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Rye, East Sussex
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Rye and East Sussex, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Birthday celebrations
- Company summer parties
Paella catering for Rye events
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Paella catering in Rye, cooked live
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it is served straight from the pan. Popular choices include seafood paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana, and we’re frequently booked for christenings and family gatherings and retirement celebrations.
In and around Rye, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Rye (TN31)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- The number of people
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
- How many courses
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Expected numbers
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- Diets and allergies you know about
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Rye? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Rye
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Drinks service on request
- Events in Rye and across East Sussex
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
For event organisers in Rye
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Where we can cook in Rye
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
How the day works
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Planning an evening event in Rye? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Rye, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Towns and villages near Rye
What else we do in Rye
Live paella in Rye: local details
Rye is about 9 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Rye. We cover 289 places in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 27 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Lamb House (under half a mile south-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Rye Community Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The coast is within about a mile of Rye, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Here we cover the TN31 postcode area. Streets in the area include Market Road, High Street and Market Street, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Main roads around Rye include the A259 and A268, which makes travel to your event easy. Close by, we cover events in Playden (1 mile north), East Guldeford (1 mile north-east), Rye Harbour (1 mile south-east), Houghton Green (1 mile north) and Rye Foreign (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Hastings (9 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-west), St Leonards (10 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (9 miles south-west), Belmont (9 miles south-west) and Hollington (10 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Ypres Tower (less than half a mile east) and Rye Castle Museum (East Street) (less than half a mile east). Green spaces nearby include Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Rye include Rye College (within half a mile north)
- Pubs nearby include The Old Bell Inn (under half a mile south-west)
Who books paella catering in Rye?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Rye and East Sussex:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Community events and fairs
- Staff parties and work lunches
For guests coming by train, Rye station is in Rye itself.
Questions to ask before you book
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- VAT, if it applies
- How bad weather is handled
Questions from Rye
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
What happens with live paella?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you are ready to eat.
How much does paella catering cost in Rye?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
- 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