Brighton and Hove · England
Paella Catering for Saltdean events
Planning paella catering in Saltdean? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering in Saltdean
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Paella catering for your event in Saltdean
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Saltdean. On the menu are seafood paella, paella Valenciana and black rice, and we’re frequently booked for fairs, fêtes and festivals and anniversary celebrations.
A place like Saltdean often has a hall, a club or a pub garden nearby; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Saltdean (BN2)
- County
- Brighton and Hove
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. In Saltdean, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What we need at the venue
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work. What matters most:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
What affects the price in Saltdean
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many courses
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Why choose live paella in Saltdean?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Saltdean
- Fast service from the pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- A clear, itemised quote
- Drinks service on request
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Request clear labels at the serving table
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Events we cater in Saltdean
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Southease station, about 3.7 miles north-east.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- When payment is due
- Travel and parking costs
Questions from Saltdean
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Saltdean for guests?
The closest is Southease station, roughly 3.7 miles away.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Towns and villages near Saltdean
Other catering in Saltdean
Live paella in Saltdean: local details
Saltdean is about 1 mile west of Telscombe, in Brighton and Hove. For paella catering in Saltdean, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Saltdean is one of 30 towns and villages in Brighton and Hove we cover.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Nicholas, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Saltdean Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Saltdean is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. The coast is within about 5 miles of Saltdean, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Here we cover the BN2 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Hill Road, School Lane and Lynwood Road or the roads around them. For events just outside Saltdean, we cover East Saltdean (1 mile east), Rottingdean (1 mile north-west), Telscombe (1 mile east), Ovingdean (2 miles north-west) and Roedean (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Brighton (4 miles north-west), Brighton and Hove (7 miles west), Hove (6 miles west), Carlton Hill (4 miles west), Hanover (4 miles north-west) and West Hill (5 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include French Convalescent Home (3 miles west) and Brighton Motor Museum (3.5 miles west). Open spaces near Saltdean include Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve and Newmarket Hill.
- Local schools include Longhill High School (1.6 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you will find Queen Victoria pub (0.7 miles west)
- 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