East Sussex · England
Paella party catering in Ripe, East Sussex
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Ripe and the surrounding area.
- Birthday parties
- Baby celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
Planning an event in Ripe?
About our paella party catering in Ripe
Paella is relaxed food: served from the pan, shared and enjoyed, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. Typical bookings include naming days and christenings and street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers, with chicken and chorizo paella, churros and tapas.
In a small place like Ripe, a party in the garden or a nearby field is frequently the plan. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we will plan the set-up. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Ripe (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your party?
Ordering in is easy but forgettable. Live paella gives guests a show. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Ripe
- Drinks service on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- A quick photo of the spot helps us plan
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Ripe
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Why choose paella party catering in Ripe?
One big dish beats lots of fiddly ones, and there’s little waste.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
- Family get-togethers
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Anniversary celebrations
After a christening at a church like The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- Staff numbers and hours
- What happens if it rains
- What the caterer needs from your venue
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. At midsummer, it is light in Ripe until about 9:15pm, so a garden party can run well into the evening. In late September it’s dark by about 7:05pm; add lights for the evening.
- First, we check the 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’s served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your party in Ripe, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
FAQs for Ripe
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St John the Baptist?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Is my garden big enough?
Generally, yes, if there is a flat, open spot away from fences and branches. Send us a photo of the space.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Also in Ripe
Hosting a paella party in Ripe
Ripe is about 5 miles west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. For paella party catering in Ripe, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Ripe is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Ripe to Brighton (12 miles away).
If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 2.2 miles south-east. Nearby historic houses include Charleston Farmhouse (2.3 miles south-west) and Firle Place (2.9 miles south-west). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. Ripe is within about 5 miles of the South Downs National Park, so many gardens around here have a great outlook.
Anywhere in BN8, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean a party in a garden on Carriage Mews, Channers Lane and Church Lane or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater parties in Selmeston (2 miles south), Wickstreet (2 miles south-east), Laughton (2 miles north), Golden Cross (2 miles north-east) and Berwick (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (8 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south), Lewes (6 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles east) and Crowborough (13 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Hellingly Hospital Railway (5.1 miles east) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3 miles north-west). The countryside around Ripe includes Firle Beacon.
- Pubs nearby include Lamb Inn (under half a mile north-west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
A closer look at the menu
Tapas
Tapas keep guests going while they watch the pans.
Chicken & chorizo paella
It’s one of the most popular pans at parties.
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Organising a club, school or community event in Ripe? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Let the neighbours know
- Plan seats for most guests
After service, we pack down, leaving you to carry on celebrating.
A jug of sangria sets the tone.
- 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