East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Upper Dicker, East Sussex
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Upper Dicker and across East Sussex.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Christenings and family gatherings
Live paella catering in Upper Dicker
Catering an event in Upper Dicker
Upper Dicker is about 2 miles west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Wherever your event is in the BN27 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Upper Dicker is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 15 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Holy Trinity, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 2.5 miles south-west. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Upper Dicker, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cater events across BN27 and the streets around it. From Camberlot Road, Old Forge Close and Coldharbour Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Lower Dicker (1 mile north-east), Tile Hurst (1 mile east), Lower Horsebridge (2 miles north-east), Nash Street (2 miles north) and Upper Horsebridge (2 miles east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles east), Seaford (8 miles south-west), Lewes (9 miles west), Crowborough (13 miles north) and St Leonards (15 miles east).
A little further out are Agricultural Museum (3.6 miles south) and Hellingly Hospital Railway (2.8 miles north-east). Not far away are Firle Beacon.
- Nearby schools include Park Mead Primary School (within half a mile south) and Hailsham Community College (2.3 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Plough Inn (under half a mile south-west)
Paella catering in Upper Dicker, made fresh on the day
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. Once it’s ready, we serve it hot from the pan. Typical bookings include summer garden parties and naming days and family parties, serving paella Valenciana, vegan paella and seafood paella.
Somewhere as small as Upper Dicker, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Where
- Upper Dicker (BN27)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Upper Dicker stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Planning paella catering in Upper Dicker? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Upper Dicker questions
What’s the nearest station to Upper Dicker for guests?
The closest is Berwick (Sussex) station, roughly 2.5 miles away.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Tell us what else is being served
- Put allergy details in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Who books paella catering in Upper Dicker?
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Big birthdays
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Nearby historic houses include Michelham Priory (0.6 miles south-east) and Horselunges Manor (2.3 miles north-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- How late numbers can change
- Staff numbers and hours
- Allergen information for each dish
- How bad weather is handled
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is usually the most photographed pan.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Towns and villages near Upper Dicker
More for events in Upper Dicker
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
Why live cooking beats a buffet
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. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Upper Dicker
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- A quote that spells everything out
- Fast service from the pan
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Parking and unloading
- The length of service
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- What the venue already provides
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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