East Sussex · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Upper Wellingham
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Upper Wellingham and the surrounding area.
- Rustic barn weddings
- Civil partnerships and vow renewals
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
Planning an event in Upper Wellingham?
How our wedding paella catering works in Upper Wellingham
Your wedding menu is planned with you, course by course, to suit your guests, venue and budget. Popular choices include a paella wedding breakfast, canapé tapas and table tapas, and we’re frequently booked for blessings and vow renewals and weddings with lots of dietary needs.
Near Upper Wellingham, weddings are often 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 serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- Upper Wellingham (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Dessert
- Sangria & bar staff
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
For event organisers in Upper Wellingham
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Upper Wellingham? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Step by step
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. For a summer wedding in Upper Wellingham, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, which means evening paella is generally served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 3:55pm.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Upper Wellingham: your questions answered
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
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’s the nearest station to Upper Wellingham for guests?
Cooksbridge station, about 2.1 miles west of the centre.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
- Send us the running order and speech times
- Pick a serving style
- Tell us about suppliers who need feeding
Guests can queue at the pans, or staff can serve the tables, whichever suits your day.
Finish with Spanish desserts or your cake.
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Upper Wellingham
Upper Wellingham is about 2 miles north-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. Tell us where your wedding in Upper Wellingham will be, and we will plan access and set-up. We cater in 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Upper Wellingham to Brighton (about 9 miles away).
Malling Down nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos. For guests travelling by train, Cooksbridge station is about 2.1 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 3 miles of Upper Wellingham, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN8, so your wedding can be anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Barcombe Mills (1 mile north), Norlington (1 mile south-east), Barcombe (1 mile north-west), Barcombe Cross (2 miles north-west) and Broyle Side (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (9 miles south), Hailsham (10 miles east), Crowborough (12 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles north-east) and Newhaven (8 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Museum of Agricultural Bygones (2.4 miles east) and Lewes Castle (2.6 miles south-west). Open spaces near Upper Wellingham include Malling Down and Cliffe Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Cock Inn (less than half a mile east)
- Other local spots include South Malling Without (2.2 miles south)
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
- The number of people
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your wedding, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Places near Upper Wellingham
More for events in Upper Wellingham
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Dishes our guests love
Canapé tapas
Canapés keep guests happy between the ceremony and the meal.
Evening paella
Paella makes great evening food, especially after a few hours on the dance floor.
Is live paella right for your wedding?
A buffet can leave food sitting out. Paella is served hot from the pan when guests are ready. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our pricing 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