East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Selmeston, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Selmeston. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Milestone birthday parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Book paella catering in Selmeston
Catering an event in Selmeston
Selmeston is about 5 miles north of Seaford, in East Sussex. For paella catering in Selmeston, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 289 places across East Sussex. Our events stretch from Selmeston to Brighton (12 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Berwick (Sussex) station is about 1 mile away. Historic houses near Selmeston include Charleston Farmhouse (1.2 miles west) and Firle Place (2.3 miles west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Selmeston is within about 3 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Selmeston is within about 6 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
For paella catering in BN26, we plan around your venue and your guests. Streets in the area include The Street and Lewes Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Nearby, we also cater events in Alciston (1 mile south), Berwick (1 mile east), Ripe (2 miles north), Winton (2 miles south) and Wickstreet (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (5 miles south), Lewes (6 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles east) and Crowborough (14 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Drusillas Museum (1.8 miles south-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (5.3 miles south-west). Not far away are Firle Beacon.
- Local pubs include The Barley Mow pub (less than half a mile south-west)
Paella catering in Selmeston, made fresh on the day
There is something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. We’re often asked to cater big birthdays and retirement celebrations, with black rice, seafood paella and vegan paella.
Somewhere like Selmeston, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Selmeston (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Organising a club, school or community event in Selmeston? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Tell us what else is being served
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we typically call guests over.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Why choose paella catering in Selmeston?
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Selmeston, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Company summer parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Naming days and family parties
- Birthday celebrations
For a christening or wedding at a church such as The Parish Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- What the price includes, item by item
- When payment is due
- Staff numbers and hours
FAQs for Selmeston
Can you cook near the sea around Selmeston?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
What’s the nearest station to Selmeston for guests?
Berwick (Sussex) station, about 1 mile east of the centre.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Is paella a full meal?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Selmeston.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
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.
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
How we price paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- How long we are needed on site
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The venue or postcode
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Selmeston
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. In Selmeston, 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’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Other catering in Selmeston
Should I cook it 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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
- 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