Kent · England
Festival Paella Catering in Hadlow
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events turns food into part of your event in Hadlow.
- Festivals
- Sports clubs and race days
- VIP and hospitality areas
Live festival paella catering in Hadlow
Running an event in Hadlow
Hadlow is about 3 miles north-east of Tonbridge, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the TN11 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our events stretch from Hadlow to London (about 26 miles away).
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as St Mary's Church, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. For visitors coming by rail, Beltring station is about 3.3 miles away.
Here we cover the TN11 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. From The Square, High Street and Brookfields or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside Hadlow, we cover Pittswood (1 mile west), Goose Green (1 mile north-east), Golden Green (1 mile south), Parker's Green (1 mile south-west) and Barnes Street (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (9 miles east), Sevenoaks (7 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (7 miles south-west), Gravesend (14 miles north), Tonbridge (3 miles south-west) and Northfleet (14 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Hadlow Tower museum (under half a mile south-east) and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (4.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Hadlow include Barden Lake and Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve.
- Schools near Hadlow include Hadlow College (within half a mile west) and Hadlow Rural Community School (under half a mile south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Rose & Crown pub (within half a mile north-west)
About our festival paella catering in Hadlow
The pans are part of the attraction. Visitors stop to watch, take photos and come back for lunch. We are frequently asked to cater open days and community events and seasonal markets, with vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and giant-pan paella.
A fête near Hadlow might be on a field with no mains power; tell us what’s available and we’ll plan around it. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Paella compared with other options
Crew sandwiches are easy but dull. A hot paella keeps crew going. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Hadlow hosts choose us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A clear, itemised quote
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
The process
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening events in Hadlow have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- First, we check the dates.
- We agree what we will serve and where.
- We set up our burners and pans.
- Pans are cooking as gates open.
- We serve, then clear the pitch at the end.
Before we arrive
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Trader information and site rules
- Spacing from tents and other structures
- Vehicle access before and after the event
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Hadlow
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
Events we cater in Hadlow
Crew love a hot meal on a long day.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Hadlow book us for occasions like:
- Open days and community events
- Sports clubs and race days
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Charity and school events
School fairs, for a school like Hadlow Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
What to look for in a quote
- Staff numbers and hours
- The wet-weather plan
- Payment terms and deposit
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels.
Giant paella pans
A pan the size of a cartwheel, full of saffron rice.
How we price festival paella catering
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The length of service
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
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
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Where the event is
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
- The courses you’d like
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Questions from Hadlow
Is Hadlow too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you run a stall at a school fair in Hadlow?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Send us the date, pitch and expected numbers.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
Do you come to Hadlow?
We do. We cook at events in Hadlow and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
Can you cater for crew and volunteers?
We can. Crew, volunteer and VIP catering is available, with or without a public stall.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Will there be long queues?
Big batches and service from the pan keep things moving.
Can you trade at our festival or fair?
Tell us about the event, dates and pitch, and we will let you know if we are available.
More for events in Hadlow
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
- 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