East Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Chailey events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Chailey and the surrounding area.
- Christenings and naming days
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Paella party catering in Chailey
Paella party catering in Chailey, cooked live
You get to be a guest at your own party: no shopping, prep or cooking. We take care of the food. Typical bookings include milestone birthdays and family reunions, serving churros, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
A country party near Chailey is perfect for paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Area
- Chailey (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Parties in Chailey: gardens, venues and local tips
Chailey is about 5 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. For paella party catering in Chailey, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Chailey is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 10 miles away.
If guests are coming by rail, Plumpton station is about 3.1 miles away. Chailey is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Anywhere in BN8, we can cook for your guests. Close by, we cover parties in North Chailey (1 mile north), South Street (1 mile south-west), Newick (1 mile north-east), Founthill (1 mile east) and South Chailey (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (12 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Princess Royal Hospital (4.1 miles north-west). The countryside around Chailey includes Blackcap and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Chailey Heritage School (1.2 miles north-west) and Chailey School (1.6 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Five Bells Inn (0.5 miles south-west)
Live paella or other catering?
If you want special but not formal, live paella is hard to beat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- We cover Chailey and the whole of East Sussex
Read How we price And The cost guide.
How the day 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 the timing is planned around your event. For a late-May party in Chailey, sunset is around 8:50pm; at midsummer it’s about 9:20pm. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- We check your date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Getting a price
Thinking about paella party catering for your party in Chailey? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
More for events in Chailey
What’s in the pans
Tapas
Patatas bravas, tortilla, croquetas and olives to start.
Churros
Churros are a treat for all ages.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Tell us how many children are coming
After service, we pack down, leaving you to carry on celebrating.
Plates, cutlery and waiting staff can be added.
Working with your venue
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Chailey? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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.
What affects the price in Chailey
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- The length of service
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A quick photo of the spot helps us plan
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
On the menu in Chailey
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Common questions in Chailey
Which station should guests use for Chailey?
The closest is Plumpton station, roughly 3.1 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Chailey.
How many paellas should we have?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
- 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