Kent · England
Festival Paella Catering in Headcorn
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Headcorn. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Seasonal markets
- County and country shows
- Community events and open days
Planning an event in Headcorn?
How our festival paella catering works in Headcorn
Festivals, fairs, markets and community events are all on our list in and around Headcorn. Whether it’s agricultural and county shows and farmers’ and Christmas markets, we can cook churros, giant-pan paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Summer fairs around Headcorn are often run by volunteers, so a self-sufficient trader makes life easier. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Why choose live paella in Headcorn?
Hot-cabinet food lacks theatre. A huge pan cooking in view sells itself. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- We cover Headcorn and the whole of Kent
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Where we can cook in Headcorn
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Firm, level ground
- A pitch away from tents and structures
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
What affects the price in Headcorn
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Parking and unloading
- How many courses
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- The address or venue name
- Expected numbers
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and rough timings
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Places near Headcorn
What else we do in Headcorn
Events we cater in Headcorn
It works at small fêtes and big festivals.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Headcorn book us for occasions like:
- Sports clubs and race days
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Community events and open days
- Village fêtes
Running a fête for a church like St Peter's and St Paul's Church? A paella pan draws people in.
What your quote should include
- How long the team stays
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether VAT is included
- Payment terms and deposit
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Your questions about festival paella catering in Headcorn
How far is Headcorn from London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can vegans eat at your stall?
Absolutely. The vegan pan is cooked separately.
How many different paellas?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Headcorn events: pitches and permissions
Headcorn is about 8 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. From the centre of Headcorn to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Headcorn is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 21 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, Headcorn station is in Headcorn itself. School fairs, for a school like Headcorn Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Within about 7 miles is the High Weald National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
Anywhere in TN27, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Station Road, High Street and Knight's Way; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Headcorn for festival paella catering include Hearnden Green (1 mile north-west), Southernden (2 miles north-east), Swift's Green (2 miles east), Lashenden (2 miles south) and Smarden Bell (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (8 miles north-west), Ashford (11 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Tonbridge (15 miles west), Faversham (15 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (12 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Sutton Valence Castle (3.2 miles north-west) and Benenden Hospital (5.8 miles south).
- Nearby, you’ll find The Kings Arms Inn And Shop Adjoining To Right (less than half a mile south-west)
The process
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. At midsummer, events in Headcorn stay light until about 9:15pm, so evening trading usually finishes in daylight in high summer. Winter markets, dark by about 3:50pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- It starts with your event details and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- On the day, we arrive and set up our pitch.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Ask for allergen information at each stall
- Provide seating near the food
- Book crew catering in advance
- Send traders one clear trader pack
We set up at the agreed time.
Crew, volunteer and VIP catering.
- 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