East Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Whitesmith
Planning paella catering in Whitesmith? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Retirement celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Office lunches and staff parties
Paella catering for Whitesmith events
Paella catering for your event in Whitesmith
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it is served straight from the pan. Popular choices include black rice, vegetable paella and mixed paella, and we are regularly asked to cater garden get-togethers and festivals, fairs and school events.
In a hamlet or village like Whitesmith, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Location
- Whitesmith (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. In Whitesmith, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- 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.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
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Perfect for your event in Whitesmith
It needs no kitchen, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Weddings and evening receptions
Nearby historic houses include Michelham Priory (3.5 miles south-east) and Horselunges Manor (3.6 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Questions to ask before booking
- The wet-weather plan
- What the price includes, item by item
- Who provides the crockery
- The deposit and payment dates
Live paella or other catering?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Whitesmith
- We cover Whitesmith and the whole of East Sussex
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Questions from Whitesmith
Do you come out to small places like Whitesmith?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
What seafood can we have?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Also near Whitesmith
Other catering in Whitesmith
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Travel, parking and access
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
- Guest numbers
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and time of the event
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Whitesmith: venues, travel and local tips
Whitesmith is about 5 miles north-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. For paella catering in Whitesmith, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Whitesmith. Whitesmith is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 14 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Berwick (Sussex) station is about 4.5 miles away. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Whitesmith is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in BN8 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on Whitesmith Lane and Whitesmith or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Chiddingly (1 mile east), East Hoathly (1 mile north), Halland (2 miles north-west), Shortgate (2 miles west) and Blackboys (4 miles north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (10 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles east), Seaford (9 miles south), Lewes (8 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles south-east) and Crowborough (10 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Hellingly Hospital Railway (4 miles east) and Tickerage Castle (4.6 miles north). Open spaces near Whitesmith include Selwyns Wood.
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Whitesmith
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- 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