Kent · England
Festival & event paella in Congelow, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events for events in Congelow and across Kent.
- School and charity events
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- Sports club events
Festival paella catering in Congelow
Congelow: your questions answered
Is Congelow close to London?
Roughly 30 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Is Congelow too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Do you cater in Congelow?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Congelow is within our area and the rest of Kent. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you do crew catering?
We can. We can cook for crew, volunteers or a hospitality area as well as, or instead of, a public stall.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
About our festival paella catering in Congelow
The cooking is part of the show. Visitors stop to watch, take photos and come back for lunch. We cook giant-pan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and churros, and we’re frequently booked for sports clubs and race days and charity and school events.
At a field event near Congelow, power and water may be limited; tell us what’s available and we will plan around it. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Put all trader information in one pack
- Check how many portions traders can serve
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Book crew catering in advance
Pans cook in full view, serving throughout the event.
Bowls and forks for eating on the go.
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- Travel, parking and access
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- The date and rough timings
- The courses you’d like
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Also near Congelow
More for events in Congelow
Community events around Congelow
Congelow is about 5 miles south-west of Maidstone, in Kent. For an event in Congelow, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Congelow. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 28 miles away.
Running a fête for a church like St Peter's and St Paul's Church? A paella pan draws people in.
Anywhere in ME18, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. For events just outside Congelow, we cover Benover (1 mile south-east), Yalding (1 mile north), Laddingford (1 mile south-west), Hunton (1 mile east) and Nettlestead Green (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (5 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (11 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (9 miles south-west), Gravesend (15 miles north), Tonbridge (7 miles west) and Northfleet (15 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Teapot Island (0.6 miles north-west) and Oakwood Hospital (4.3 miles north-east).
- Local pubs include The Bull Public House (0.5 miles north)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Burger stalls are common. Paella adds something different. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Events in Congelow and across Kent
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
The process
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Summer events in Congelow have daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer and about 7:00pm by late September, which helps evening trading. For winter markets, dark by about 3:50pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- We arrive at the agreed time to set up the pitch.
- We cook in front of the crowd and serve from the pan all event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
Planning festival paella catering in Congelow? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Why choose festival paella catering in Congelow?
It brings theatre to the food court.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Food and music festivals
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Seasonal markets
- Open days and community events
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Yalding station, about 1 mile north-west.
Before booking anyone
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The venue requirements
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Your arrangements for power, water and waste
- Vehicle access before and after the event
- Your trader pack and site rules
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Giant paella pans
- Churros
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
About the dishes
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan, popular with families.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella is always popular.
- 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