Kent · England
Festival & event paella in Ashford, Kent
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events makes the food a highlight of your event in Ashford.
- County and country shows
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
Live festival paella catering in Ashford
Running an event in Ashford
Ashford is in Kent. For festival paella catering in Ashford, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Ashford. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, Ashford International station is in Ashford itself. If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Chilmington Green Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Within about 5 miles is the Kent Downs National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
We cover events in every part of TN23, TN24, TN25 and TN26. Streets in the area include Market Lane, Church Road and Station Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Ashford is on the A20 and A28, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Nearby, we also cater events in Stanhope (1 mile south-west), Newtown (1 mile south-east), South Willesborough (1 mile south-east), Godinton (1 mile north-west) and Willesborough (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (13 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles east), Faversham (12 miles north), Hythe (10 miles south-east) and Davington (12 miles north). As one of the bigger places in Kent, Ashford has lots of places to hold an event.
A little further out are William Harvey Hospital (2.1 miles east) and Ashford Designer Outlet (0.6 miles south-east). The countryside around Ashford includes Hatch Park.
- Schools near Ashford include Ashford School (0.8 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Locomotive pub (under half a mile east)
Festival paella catering for your event in Ashford
Crew and volunteer catering can be timed to your schedule, keeping your team fed. We cook churros, vegan paella and seafood paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater school fairs and fundraisers and country shows.
Ashford hosts all kinds of events, from markets to festivals. Paella draws people in and serves quickly. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Also near Ashford
Other catering in Ashford
For event organisers in Ashford
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Ashford: your questions answered
Is Ashford close to London?
About 48 miles from central London.
Do you trade at school fairs around Ashford?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Send us the date, pitch and expected numbers.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
What documents can you send?
Send us your list and we’ll respond.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
Do you have vegan options at events?
Absolutely. Vegan paella is cooked in its own pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Occasions we cook for in Ashford
It brings theatre to the food court.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- Country shows
Running a fête for a church like Christ Church? A paella pan draws people in.
Questions to ask before booking
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- VAT, if it applies
- How long the team stays
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Schedule crew meals
- Check allergen info is on display
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Give traders a single information pack
Crew meals are served at set times.
A vegan pan alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Is live paella right for your event?
For crew catering, sandwiches are easy but uninspiring. A hot meal keeps crew happy. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Ashford
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing Or The cost guide.
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Evening events in Ashford have light until about 9:15pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- We cook in front of the crowd and serve from the pan all event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
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What festival paella catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Travel, parking and access
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The courses you’d like
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- Diets and allergies you know about
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Clearance from tents and gazebos
- Flat, firm ground
- The event’s site rules and timings
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
- 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