East Sussex · England
Wedding paella catering in Playden, East Sussex
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Playden: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Informal wedding breakfasts
- Receptions after an intimate ceremony
- Civil partnerships and vow renewals
Book wedding paella catering in Playden
About our wedding paella catering in Playden
Paella suits relaxed, sociable weddings, long tables and garden or barn venues. It feels generous and celebratory. Popular choices include table tapas, canapé tapas and a paella wedding breakfast, and we are regularly asked to cater blessings and vow renewals and spanish-themed and destination-style weddings.
Near Playden, weddings are frequently in fields, barns or gardens. Live paella is made for that: no kitchen needed, 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
- Playden (TN31)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Golden-hour photos in Playden at midsummer come around 9:15pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:45pm, and in late September about 7:00pm.
- Share your date, venue, numbers and plans for the day.
- We build the menu course by course and send a quote.
- We fit our timings around your speeches, photos and venue.
- On the day we set up, cook live and serve each course as planned.
- Afterwards we clear our area; any staff you’ve booked stay as planned.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your wedding in Playden, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
FAQs for Playden
Do you come out to small places like Playden?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Playden close to London?
About 52 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Occasions we cook for in Playden
It suits outdoor and rustic venues particularly well, where plated meals are harder.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Farm and barn venues
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
- Weddings with lots of dietary needs
If you are marrying at a church near Playden, such as The Parish Church of St Michael or St Anthony of Padua Church, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive.
What your quote should include
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
- If the price includes VAT
- The wet-weather plan
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Playden
Playden is about 10 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We cater weddings at homes, gardens and venues in Playden and nearby villages. Playden is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 27 miles away.
For outdoor photos, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is close by. Put the station on your invitation: Rye station is about 0.7 miles away. With the coast within about a mile, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. We’ll plan shelter from sea breezes.
Here we cover the TN31 postcode area. Local streets include Rectory Lane, New England Lane and Saltcote Lane; a wedding at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Playden, we also cover Houghton Green (1 mile north-east), East Guldeford (1 mile east), Rye (1 mile south), Iden (1 mile north) and Rye Foreign (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (10 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-west), St Leonards (11 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (10 miles south-west), Belmont (10 miles south-west) and Hollington (10 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Ypres Tower (0.9 miles south) and Rye Castle Museum (East Street) (0.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Rye College (0.6 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Kings Head Inn (under half a mile south)
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Dishes our guests love
Table tapas
Bowls and boards set down in the middle of each table, such as patatas bravas, croquetas and Manchego.
Evening paella
Fresh pans for evening guests, quick to serve and filling.
How we price wedding paella catering
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- Evening paella
- Sangria & bar staff
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
Towns and villages near Playden
More for events in Playden
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Hog roasts are popular but tricky for mixed diets. Paella covers them with separate pans. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
- 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