Brighton and Hove · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Stanmer
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Stanmer: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Farm and barn venues
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Garden and marquee weddings
Planning an event in Stanmer?
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
About our wedding paella catering in Stanmer
Sharing from big pans suits relaxed weddings, especially with long tables and outdoor venues. It feels generous and celebratory. For receptions after an intimate ceremony and food for evening guests, we’ll put together a menu of a paella wedding breakfast, canapé tapas and table tapas.
A wedding in a small place like Stanmer frequently means a field, a barn or a family garden. Live paella is made for that: no kitchen, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Stanmer (BN1)
- Area hub
- Brighton and Hove
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Common questions in Stanmer
Can you cater a reception after a service at Stanmer Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
How many different paellas?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
What if our speeches run late?
We adapt. We keep in touch with your venue on the day so the paella is served fresh.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Live paella or other catering?
Plated wedding meals need a kitchen and more staff. Paella needs a level, ventilated spot and permission, and suits a relaxed style. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Catering across Brighton and Hove, including Stanmer
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
What wedding paella catering costs
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Guest numbers
- How long we’re needed on site
- Parking and unloading
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Your date and when you want to eat
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Places near Stanmer
Other catering in Stanmer
Planning a paella wedding in Stanmer
Stanmer is about 3 miles north-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. For a wedding in Stanmer, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Stanmer. Stanmer is one of 30 places in Brighton and Hove we cover.
Couples marrying at local churches such as Stanmer Church often hold the reception nearby: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so it’s ready as guests arrive. For outdoor photos, Ladies Mile is close by. With the South Downs National Park within about 4 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules. With the coast within about 4 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
Here we cover the BN1 postcode area, so your wedding can be anywhere in it. We also cook at weddings in Hollingbury (1 mile south-west), Moulsecoomb (2 miles south), Bevendean (2 miles south), Patcham (2 miles west) and Hollingdean (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Brighton (3 miles south-west), Brighton and Hove (4 miles south-west), Hove (4 miles south-west), Carlton Hill (3 miles south), Hanover (3 miles south) and West Hill (3 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Clayton Castle (3.4 miles north-west) and Churchill Square (3.7 miles south-west). Open spaces near Stanmer include Ditchling Beacon and Ladies Mile.
- Schools near Stanmer include Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (0.9 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include Ruby pub (0.8 miles south)
- Other local spots include University of Sussex Library (0.6 miles south-east)
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. At midsummer, sunset in Stanmer is about 9:20pm, so we can time the evening paella around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:50pm, and in late September about 7:05pm.
- We start with your date, venue, numbers and ideas.
- We plan a menu with you, course by course, and confirm a quote.
- Timings are agreed with you and the venue, around speeches and photos.
- On the day, we set up, cook in front of your guests and serve each course.
- We pack down our cooking area, with staff staying as long as agreed.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
Get 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 send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Where we can cook in Stanmer
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- A cooking spot outside the marquee, not inside it
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Sangria & bar staff
Dishes our guests love
Evening paella
Paella makes great evening food, especially after a few hours on the dance floor.
Canapé tapas
Canapés keep guests happy between the ceremony and the meal.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Ask whether your venue allows outside caterers
- Pick a serving style
We normally set up where guests can watch, which makes a lovely backdrop for photos.
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
- 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