Brighton and Hove · England
Paella Catering for Westdene events
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Westdene.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Birthday celebrations
Live paella catering in Westdene
How our paella catering works in Westdene
Paella is generous food: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It turns a meal into an occasion. Typical bookings include milestone birthday parties and community events and fairs, with black rice, seafood paella and mixed paella.
In a smaller place like Westdene, a garden party is frequently the simplest option: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Westdene (BN1, BN3)
- County
- Brighton and Hove
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose live paella in Westdene?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Westdene. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- Events in Westdene and across Brighton and Hove
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Drinks service on request
Towns and villages near Westdene
What else we do in Westdene
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Westdene: your questions answered
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
How far is Westdene from London?
About 44 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What seafood can we have?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Can you feed a lot of people?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
What happens with live paella?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
How we price paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
- The courses you’d like
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Count adults and children separately
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
Step by step
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in Westdene stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Live paella in Westdene: local details
Westdene is about 2 miles north-east of Brighton and Hove, in Brighton and Hove. For paella catering in Westdene, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in 30 places in Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of the Ascension, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Westdene Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Westdene, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Westdene is within about 3 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
For paella catering in BN1 and BN3, we plan around your venue and your guests. From Mill Road, Croft Road and London Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Westdene sits on or near the A27, which makes travel to your event easy. We also cook at events in Patcham (1 mile north-east), Withdean (1 mile south-east), Waterhall (1 mile north), Preston (1 mile south-east) and West Blatchington (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Carlton Hill (3 miles south-east), Hanover (3 miles south-east), Kemptown (3 miles south-east), Whitehawk (3 miles south-east), Bevendean (3 miles south-east) and Saltdean (7 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Clayton Castle (3.5 miles north) and British Engineerium (1.2 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Ladies Mile and Wolstonbury Hill.
- Nearby schools include Patcham High School (0.8 miles east) and Varndean College (0.9 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Sportsman pub (0.5 miles south)
- 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