East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Whatlington, East Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Whatlington. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Planning an event in Whatlington?
What affects the price in Whatlington
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Travel, parking and access
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Anything your venue supplies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Diets and allergies you know about
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Whatlington? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Paella catering for your event in Whatlington
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. Typical bookings include family celebrations and christenings and weddings and evening receptions, serving chicken and chorizo paella, paella Valenciana and seafood paella.
In a hamlet or village like Whatlington, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Whatlington (TN33)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Also near Whatlington
What else we do in Whatlington
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For event organisers in Whatlington
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is the pan people photograph.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Live paella in Whatlington: local details
Whatlington is about 6 miles north-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. Anywhere in TN33, we can bring the pans to you. We cover all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 29 miles away.
Historic houses near Whatlington include Durhamford Manor (0.6 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Vinehall School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Whatlington is within about 7 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in TN33 is planned around your venue. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Sedlescombe (1 mile east), Swaile's Green (2 miles north-east), Cripp's Corner (2 miles north-east), Telham (2 miles south) and Kent Street (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (14 miles south-west), Hastings (6 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (7 miles south), Hailsham (12 miles south-west), St Leonards (6 miles south) and Polegate (14 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Conquest Hospital (4.6 miles south-east) and Battle Museum of Local History (1.9 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Church Wood and Robsack Wood and Senlac Hill.
- Local schools include Claverham Community College (2.4 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Royal Oak Inn (under half a mile north)
Your questions about paella catering in Whatlington
Is Whatlington close to London?
About 47 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Mary Magdalene's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Is paella a full meal?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Occasions we cook for in Whatlington
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
In Whatlington and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Mary Magdalene's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Before booking anyone
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- VAT, if it applies
- The venue requirements
- How bad weather is handled
Where we can cook in Whatlington
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
How it works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Planning an evening event in Whatlington? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, and that is when we invite guests up.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
- 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