East Sussex · England
Wedding Paella Catering for South Chailey events
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in South Chailey: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Big weddings with every diet
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
Wedding paella catering near South Chailey
Why choose wedding paella catering in South Chailey?
It fills the gap between ceremony and meal: gather round the cooking.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In South Chailey, people book us for events such as:
- Evening food for extra guests
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
Nearby historic houses include Anne of Cleves House (5 miles south). Historic houses and estates frequently have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that is your venue.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the price includes, item by item
- How bad weather is handled
- Whether travel is included
- Allergen information for each dish
Wedding paella catering for your wedding in South Chailey
We can cater your whole wedding day or one part of it: canapé tapas with the drinks, table tapas, paella for the wedding breakfast, evening food and desserts. Popular choices include canapé tapas, a paella wedding breakfast and Spanish desserts, and typical bookings are for relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts and big weddings with every diet.
There is something special about a country wedding near South Chailey, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
- Area
- South Chailey (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- A separate open-sided gazebo if the meal is in a marquee
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we offer
- Evening paella
- Sangria & bar staff
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- Dessert
Why choose live paella in South Chailey?
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, consider your venue, diets and the style you want. 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.
Why us?
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Also near South Chailey
More for events in South Chailey
How it works
Here’s how the day normally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. For a summer wedding in South Chailey, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, which means evening paella is usually served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it’s dark by about 3:55pm.
- Send us your wedding date, venue and numbers.
- Together we plan each course.
- We agree timings with you and your venue.
- On the day, we cook and serve each course.
- We clear our area; staff stay as booked.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Give us separate day and evening numbers
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
- Ask about diets and allergies with your RSVPs
- Let us know about meals for your band or photographer
We clear our cooking area away afterwards; staff you’ve booked stay as agreed.
Spanish desserts, or your own wedding cake, finish the meal.
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Getting married in South Chailey?
South Chailey is about 4 miles north of Lewes, in East Sussex. Give us the address of your wedding in South Chailey, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in 289 places in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from South Chailey to Brighton (9 miles away).
For guests travelling by train, the nearest station is Plumpton station, about 1.7 miles south-west. For outdoor photos, Blackcap is close by. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of South Chailey, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules.
Anywhere in BN8, we can cook for your guests. We can cater a wedding on streets such as Mill Brooks, Whitegates Close and Brickyard Lane or the roads around them. Other places close to South Chailey for wedding paella catering include South Street (1 mile north), Chiltington (1 mile south), Chailey (2 miles north-east), East Chiltington (2 miles south-west) and Plumpton Green (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Seaford (13 miles south-east), Lewes (4 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (11 miles north-east), Uckfield (6 miles east) and Newhaven (11 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Lewes Castle (4.8 miles south) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (4.5 miles south). The countryside around South Chailey includes Blackcap and Malling Down.
- Pubs nearby include Swan Public House (less than half a mile south-east)
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know 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.
Common questions in South Chailey
Do you come out to small places like South Chailey?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
What about supplier meals?
Yes, include them in your numbers. Tell us when they’ll eat.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Is paella smart enough for a wedding?
With the right presentation, it feels special: canapés, tapas, crockery and table service.
A closer look at the menu
Table tapas
Tapas set out on every table to share, such as patatas bravas, croquetas and Manchego.
Canapé tapas
One- and two-bite tapas on boards, perfect during the photos.
- 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