East Sussex · England
Paella party catering in St Leonards, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in St Leonards. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family get-togethers
Live paella party catering in St Leonards
Paella party catering in St Leonards, cooked live
You get to enjoy your own party: no shopping, no cooking, no hours at the stove. The food is our job. Popular choices include seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and tapas, and typical bookings are for summer garden parties and celebrations of life.
In St Leonards, home and the local hall are popular party venues. Live paella works at both, as long as there’s outdoor or ventilated space. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- St Leonards (TN38, TN37, TN34)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Plan seats for most guests
- Give separate numbers for children
- Add a diet question to the invitation
When service is finished, we pack down quietly, leaving you to carry on celebrating.
Tapas to start keep guests happy.
Live paella or other catering?
A hog roast is great for meat lovers, but harder for vegetarians and vegans. Paella covers everyone with separate pans. Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why choose Love Paella in St Leonards
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Events in St Leonards and across East Sussex
What affects the price in St Leonards
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- Whether you need crockery
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Planning paella party catering in St Leonards? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well, and meat eaters frequently try it too.
Tapas
A few tapas set the scene.
Occasions we cook for in St Leonards
It’s generous and sociable, perfect for celebrations where people want to mingle.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Big family gatherings
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Baby celebrations
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as St John the Evangelist's Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The wet-weather plan
Organising for someone else?
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Towns and villages near St Leonards
Other catering in St Leonards
Planning a party in St Leonards
St Leonards is about 1 mile south-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. For paella party catering in St Leonards, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. St Leonards is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 30 miles away.
If guests are coming by rail, St Leonards has its own station, St Leonards Warrior Square station. Parks such as Summerfields Wood typically need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is often easier. Near the coast, within about 2 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice, and we always plan for wind.
Anywhere in TN38, TN37 and TN34, we can bring paella party catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater a party on streets such as Sea Road, Fern Road and Dane Road. St Leonards sits on or near the A259 and A2102, which makes travel to your party easy. If your venue is just outside St Leonards, we also cover Silverhill (1 mile north), Hastings (1 mile north-east), America Ground (1 mile east), Bulverhythe (1 mile west) and Hollington (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (13 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (4 miles west), Hailsham (13 miles west), Polegate (13 miles west), Old Town (14 miles south-west) and Heathfield (15 miles north-west). Being one of East Sussex’s larger places, St Leonards has plenty of venues and gardens for parties.
Nearby you’ll also find Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (1.2 miles east) and Conquest Hospital (2.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Church Wood and Robsack Wood and Senlac Hill.
- Local schools include The St Leonards Academy (0.8 miles west) and University School (0.9 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include Horse And Groom Public House (within half a mile south-east)
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell typically draws people over. A summer party in St Leonards stays light until about 9:15pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:00pm; add lights for the evening.
- We check your date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- In goes the rice, and guests gather.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
St Leonards: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at St John the Evangelist's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook in Summerfields Wood?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including St Leonards.
How much does paella party catering cost in St Leonards?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
- 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