East Sussex · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Alciston
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Alciston: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Food for evening guests
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Sharing-style wedding meals
Planning an event in Alciston?
About our wedding paella catering in Alciston
Paella has a natural rhythm: once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and it is best served right away. We time it around your speeches and photos. On the menu are evening paella, Spanish desserts and canapé tapas, and typical bookings are for evening wedding food and weddings with lots of dietary needs.
Near Alciston, weddings are often in fields, barns or gardens. That’s exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Area
- Alciston (BN26)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Alciston weddings: local tips
Alciston is about 4 miles north of Seaford, in East Sussex. Whether your wedding is in the middle of Alciston or on the outskirts, wedding paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in 289 places across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 12 miles away.
For outdoor photos, Firle Beacon is close by, and the countryside around Alciston suits an outdoor reception. Historic houses near Alciston include Charleston Farmhouse (1.3 miles north-west) and Alfriston Clergy House (2 miles south-east). Historic houses and estates often have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that’s your venue. With the South Downs National Park within about 2 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules. With the coast within about 5 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
We cook at weddings all over BN26. For weddings just outside Alciston, we cover Selmeston (1 mile north), Berwick (1 mile north-east), Winton (1 mile south-east), Alfriston (2 miles south-east) and Milton Street (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (4 miles south), Lewes (7 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north-east) and Crowborough (15 miles north).
A little further out are Arlington Castle (1.7 miles south-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (4.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Alciston includes Firle Beacon.
- Local pubs include Rose Cottage Inn (within half a mile west)
Also near Alciston
More for events in Alciston
Where we can cook in Alciston
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
On the menu in Alciston
- Evening paella
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Table tapas
Who books wedding paella catering in Alciston?
Mixed diets are easy, which matters at weddings with lots of guests.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
Put the station on your invitation: Berwick (Sussex) station is about 1.3 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- The venue requirements
- How each diet is kept separate
- If the price includes VAT
- The deposit and payment dates
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Send us the running order and speech times
- Ask whether your venue allows outside caterers
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Pick a serving style
If speeches or photos run over, tell us, and we will adapt the timing so the paella is served at its best.
Add sangria, or bar staff to serve your own drinks.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell usually draws people over. For a summer wedding in Alciston, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, which means evening paella is typically served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us your date, venue and numbers.
- Together we plan each course.
- We agree timings with you and your venue.
- We cook live on the day and serve each course.
- We pack down, and staff stay as agreed.
How to prepare
- Give us a contact for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, think about your venue, your guests’ diets and the feel of the day. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
What you get with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- We cover Alciston and the whole of East Sussex
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
What wedding paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How long we are needed on site
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your wedding in Alciston, and we will put together a menu and price.
Alciston questions
What’s the nearest station to Alciston for guests?
Berwick (Sussex) station, about 1.3 miles north-east of the centre.
How far is Alciston from London?
About 47 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Will you talk to our venue?
Of course. We’re happy to talk to your venue about access, timings and requirements.
Can you cater the whole day?
We can. Canapé tapas, table tapas, a paella wedding breakfast, evening food and desserts, or any part of that.
What if photos overrun?
We plan for it. The rice goes in at the last sensible moment, so it’s ready when you are.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including East Sussex. See all areas.
Is paella smart enough for a wedding?
Served well, it feels generous and special: canapés, tapas, crockery and table service.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
The menu, dish by dish
Table tapas
Tapas set out on every table to share, from bravas to croquetas and Manchego.
Paella wedding breakfast
The main event: paellas for every diet, served straight from the pan.
- 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