East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in South Malling
Looking for paella catering in South Malling? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Company summer parties
Live paella catering in South Malling
How our paella catering works in South Malling
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around South Malling. Popular choices include black rice, seafood paella and mixed paella, and we are regularly asked to cater retirement and leaving parties and office lunches and staff parties.
In a smaller place like South Malling, a garden party is often the simplest option: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Let us know about access to the house. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- South Malling (BN7, BN8)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is generally the most photographed pan.
Catering an event in South Malling
South Malling is about 1 mile north-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. Give us the address of your event in South Malling, and we’ll plan access and set-up. We cover all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 7 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Lewes station is about 0.7 miles away. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like South Malling CofE Primary and Nursery School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. South Malling is within about a mile of the South Downs National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the BN7 and BN8 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Lee Road, New Road and Mill Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Main roads around South Malling include the A26 and A2029, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. If your venue is just outside South Malling, we also cover Lewes (1 mile south-west), Cliffe (1 mile south-east), Southover (1 mile south), Hamsey (1 mile north) and Offham (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (7 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south).
Nearby you will also find St John under the Castle Lewes (within half a mile south-west) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3.6 miles east). The countryside around South Malling includes Malling Down and Cliffe Hill.
- Nearby schools include Lewes Old Grammar School (0.6 miles south-west) and Priory School (0.8 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find Elephant and Castle pub (within half a mile south-west)
Step by step
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. Around midsummer it stays light in South Malling until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
Also in South Malling
What paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The venue or postcode
- The date and rough timings
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What you get with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Fast service from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Catering across East Sussex, including South Malling
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Occasions we cook for in South Malling
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In South Malling, people book us for events such as:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Michael, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- When final numbers are due
- If the price includes VAT
- Exactly what’s included in the price
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
FAQs for South Malling
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Michael: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
Do you cover South Malling?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including South Malling. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us what else is being served
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Confirm allergies by email
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
- 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