East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Upperton, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Upperton. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering for Upperton events
About our paella catering in Upperton
There is something generous about paella: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. Whether it is leaving dos and retirements and anniversary celebrations, we can cook vegan paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana for your guests.
In and around Upperton, gardens and local halls are common choices. If access is tight, we will plan around it. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Upperton (BN21, BN22, BN20)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Common questions in Upperton
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, East Sussex included. See all areas.
Paella catering around Upperton
Upperton is about 1 mile south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Upperton and nearby villages. We cover 289 places in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 18 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Thomas A Becket Catholic Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Upperton has its own station, Eastbourne station. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Upperton. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. The coast is within about a mile of Upperton, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cover events in every part of the BN21, BN22 and BN20 postcode area. Local streets include Love Lane, Hyde Road and York Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Upperton is on the A2021 and A2040, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Upperton, we cover Old Town (1 mile west), Eastbourne (1 mile north-east), Meads (1 mile south), Holywell (1 mile south) and Ratton Village (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Hastings (14 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (14 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north) and St Leonards (13 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Eastbourne District General Hospital (0.9 miles north-west) and Pevensey Castle (4 miles north-east). Open spaces near Upperton include Combe Hill.
- Nearby schools include Gildredge House (0.5 miles south-west) and WMG Academy for Young Engineers (0.5 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Rainbow pub (under half a mile west)
Also near Upperton
Also in Upperton
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
What paella catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Guest numbers
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- How many courses
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- What the venue already provides
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
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.
Events we cater in Upperton
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.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday celebrations
- Company summer parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What to look for in a quote
- The wet-weather plan
- VAT, if it applies
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Any travel, parking or access charges
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
The process
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. Around midsummer it stays light in Upperton until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, 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.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
Working with your venue
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
- 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