East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Stonegate, East Sussex
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Stonegate: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Community events and fairs
Book paella catering in Stonegate
How our paella catering works in Stonegate
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We cook vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella, and we are often booked for engagement and anniversary parties and office lunches and staff parties.
In a small place like Stonegate, events are usually in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Where
- Stonegate (TN5)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Paella compared with other options
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Fast service from the pan
Towns and villages near Stonegate
Other catering in Stonegate
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
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.
How it works
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. In Stonegate, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm 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.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
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Catering an event in Stonegate
Stonegate is about 9 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in East Sussex. For an event in Stonegate, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Stonegate. We cook in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 26 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Stonegate station, about 1 mile south-west. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Stonegate Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Stonegate, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in TN5, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Station Road, Forge Field and Lymden Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Stonegate, we also cover Wallcrouch (1 mile north), Shover's Green (1 mile north-west), Birchett's Green (2 miles north), Witherenden Hill (2 miles south-west) and Holton Hill (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Hastings (14 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-west), Crowborough (9 miles west), St Leonards (14 miles south-east) and Uckfield (13 miles west).
Nearby you will also find Old Scotney Castle (4.4 miles north) and Ticehurst House Hospital (1.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Bewl Water.
Questions from Stonegate
Do you come out to small places like Stonegate?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which station should guests use for Stonegate?
The closest is Stonegate station, roughly 1 mile away.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
How does live paella catering work?
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.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Tell us what else is being served
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Why choose paella catering in Stonegate?
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Summer garden parties
Historic houses near Stonegate include Wadhurst Castle (3 miles north-west) and Bateman's (3 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What to look for in a quote
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Travel and parking costs
- The deposit and payment dates
- What happens if it rains
Organising for someone else?
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planning the cooking area
We’ll be honest if a space will not work. What matters most:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- 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