East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Tide Mills, East Sussex
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Tide Mills: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement and leaving parties
Live paella catering in Tide Mills
The process
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. In Tide Mills, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised 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.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
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Paella catering for your event in Tide Mills
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll suggest what suits your event. We cook seafood paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana, and we’re often booked for festivals, fairs and school events and company summer parties.
Somewhere as small as Tide Mills, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Tide Mills (BN25, BN9)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Where we can cook in Tide Mills
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Planning live paella in Tide Mills
Tide Mills is about 1 mile south-east of Newhaven, in East Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Tide Mills and the surrounding area. We cater in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Tide Mills to Brighton (about 9 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Andrew, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as UTC@Harbourside, can book us as a food stall. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Tide Mills, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Tide Mills is within about 2 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN25 and BN9. Whether your event is on Hurdis Road, Seaford Road and Newhaven Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Nearby, we also cater events in Bishopstone (1 mile north-east), Norton (1 mile north-east), Newhaven (1 mile north-west), Denton (1 mile north) and South Heighton (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (9 miles east), Lewes (7 miles north-west), Hailsham (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (13 miles north), Peacehaven (3 miles west) and Telscombe (4 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Arlington Castle (4.8 miles north-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (under half a mile south-west). Open spaces near Tide Mills include Itford Hill.
- Schools near Tide Mills include St Peter's School (1.5 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Hope Inn (0.6 miles west)
Occasions we cook for in Tide Mills
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Community events and fairs
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Bishopstone (Sussex) station, about 0.6 miles east.
What your quote should include
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- What the price includes, item by item
- Space, access and power needs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- How long we are needed on site
- Travel, parking and access
- How many courses
- How many guests are eating
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- The address or venue name
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Your date and when you want to eat
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Why choose live paella in Tide Mills?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Tide Mills. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Catering across East Sussex, including Tide Mills
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Tide Mills questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Andrew: 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 usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, East Sussex included. Find your area.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Also near Tide Mills
More for events in Tide Mills
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
- 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