East Sussex · England
Paella Party Catering for Shortgate events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events for events in Shortgate and across East Sussex.
- Summer garden parties
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Family get-togethers
Paella party catering for Shortgate events
Hosting a paella party in Shortgate
Shortgate is about 4 miles south of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Across the BN8 area, we can cook for your guests. We cook in 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 12 miles away.
Historic houses near Shortgate include Glyndebourne (3.5 miles south-west) and Glynde Place (4 miles south-west). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Shortgate, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Anywhere in BN8, we can bring paella party catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Close by, we cover parties in Halland (1 mile north-east), East Hoathly (2 miles east), Whitesmith (2 miles east), Chiddingly (3 miles east) and Framfield (4 miles north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (12 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south-west), Hailsham (7 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north) and Newhaven (9 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Uckfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Tickerage Castle (4.1 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
How our paella party catering works in Shortgate
You get to enjoy your own party: no shopping, no cooking, no hours at the stove. We take care of the food. We cook mixed paella, churros and tapas, and we’re often booked for naming days and christenings and big family gatherings.
Near Shortgate, parties are often in gardens or fields. Let us know about access, and we’ll handle the rest. Everything is cooked from scratch at your party, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Area
- Shortgate (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Questions from Shortgate
Is Shortgate close to London?
Roughly 41 miles from the centre of London.
Is Shortgate too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you cater in Shortgate?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Shortgate and the rest of East Sussex. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Is live paella right for your party?
Cooking yourself saves money but costs you the party. With live paella, you’re a guest too. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Catering across East Sussex, including Shortgate
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Plan seats for most guests
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
- Have cover ready for a shower
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
We are set up before guests arrive.
Churros and chocolate go down well with all ages.
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A photo of the garden helps us check the space
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Shortgate
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Mixed paella
- Churros
- Vegetable paella
What paella party catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Whether you need crockery
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Distance and access to the venue
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Expected numbers
- The date and time of the event
- Where the event is
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your party in Shortgate, and we will put together a menu and price.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests typically gather round to watch while it cooks. A summer party in Shortgate stays light until about 9:15pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- You tell us the date, address, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up in your garden or venue and start the sofrito.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- It’s served from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
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Why choose paella party catering in Shortgate?
Any occasion works, from a first birthday to a ruby wedding.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Shortgate and East Sussex:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Big birthdays
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Christenings and naming days
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Uckfield station, about 3.9 miles north.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When payment is due
- The wet-weather plan
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Nearby places to Shortgate
Also in Shortgate
- 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