East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Steel Cross
Looking for paella catering in Steel Cross? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Big birthdays
Paella catering near Steel Cross
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
Paella catering in Steel Cross, cooked live
A couple of different pans covers everyone: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. For office lunches and staff parties and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we can cook vegan paella, mixed paella and seafood paella.
In a hamlet or village like Steel Cross, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Steel Cross (TN6)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Around midsummer it stays light in Steel Cross 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.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Related guides
Places near Steel Cross
Other catering in Steel Cross
Why choose paella catering in Steel Cross?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
In Steel Cross and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement celebrations
Historic houses near Steel Cross include Groombridge Place (3.8 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- Whether VAT is included
- A clear list of what’s included
- When final numbers are due
- How each diet is kept separate
Steel Cross: your questions answered
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of All Saints: 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 typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Steel Cross for guests?
Crowborough station, about 1.2 miles south of the centre.
Do you cook inside?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Steel Cross: venues, travel and local tips
Steel Cross is about 1 mile north-east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. From the centre of Steel Cross to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 21 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Crowborough station is about 1.2 miles away. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of All Saints, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Steel Cross is within about 5 miles of the High Weald National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in TN6, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Hindleap Avenue, Payne Close and Vachery Street, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Steel Cross, we also cover Boarshead (1 mile north), Crowborough (1 mile south-west), Jarvis Brook (1 mile south), Marden's Hill (2 miles west) and Friar's Gate (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Lewes (15 miles south-west), Hailsham (14 miles south), Uckfield (7 miles south-west), South Malling (15 miles south-west), Heathfield (7 miles south-east) and Southover (15 miles south-west).
A little further out are Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (1.3 miles south-west). Not far away are Crowborough Country Park.
- Local schools include Sir Henry Fermor Church of England Primary School (0.8 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Boars Head Inn (0.6 miles north-east)
For planners, venues and organisers
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A photo of the space, if you can
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why choose Love Paella in Steel Cross
- Events in Steel Cross and across East Sussex
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- A clear, itemised quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- 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