East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Wilmington, East Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Wilmington.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Naming days and family parties
- Company summer parties
Paella catering in Wilmington
About our paella catering in Wilmington
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Whether it’s weddings and evening receptions and milestone birthday parties, we’ll put together a menu of vegetable paella, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
For a rural spot like Wilmington, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Area
- Wilmington (BN26)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Wilmington: venues, travel and local tips
Wilmington is about 4 miles south-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. From the centre of Wilmington to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 14 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Alfriston Clergy House (1.9 miles south-west) and Michelham Priory (3 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Mary and St Peter's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Wilmington is within about 2 miles of the South Downs National Park. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Wilmington is within about 6 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in BN26, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on The Street and Ades Field or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Milton Street (1 mile south-west), Winton (2 miles west), Arlington (2 miles north), Berwick (2 miles north-west) and Lullington (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (5 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles east), Seaford (5 miles south-west), Lewes (9 miles north-west), Hailsham (4 miles north-east) and Uckfield (11 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Agricultural Museum (within half a mile south) and Burlough Castle (1 mile west). Green spaces nearby include Combe Hill.
- Local pubs include The Sussex Ox pub (0.9 miles south-west)
Nearby places to Wilmington
More for events in Wilmington
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and normally costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Real theatre, not just catering
- No hidden extras in your quote
- We cover Wilmington and the whole of East Sussex
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Common questions in Wilmington
Is Wilmington too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook near the sea around Wilmington?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Wilmington? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Planning the cooking area
We will be honest if a space won’t work. The main points are:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Wilmington
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
Perfect for your event in Wilmington
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Retirement celebrations
- Summer garden parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Willingdon Community School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What to look for in a quote
- How bad weather is handled
- VAT, if it applies
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deadline for final numbers
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Tell us how many children are coming
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
What paella catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- How long we are needed on site
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- The courses you’d like
- The venue or postcode
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it is served at its best. Evenings in Wilmington 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.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- 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
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
- 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