Kent · England
Festival & event paella in Hicks Forstal, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hicks Forstal. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Village fêtes
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
Planning an event in Hicks Forstal?
Hicks Forstal events: pitches and permissions
Hicks Forstal is about 2 miles south of Herne Bay, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Hicks Forstal, and we’ll plan access and set-up. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent.
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Sturry station, about 2.2 miles south. If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Spires Academy, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The coast is within about 3 miles of Hicks Forstal, so for seaside events we plan a sheltered pitch.
Here we cover the CT3 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Close by, we cover events in Calcott (1 mile south-west), Herne Common (1 mile north), Knave's Ash (1 mile east), Herne (1 mile north) and Bullockstone (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (4 miles south-west), Margate (12 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east) and Whitstable (4 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (3.9 miles south) and Canterbury Castle (4.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Hicks Forstal includes West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Festival paella catering in Hicks Forstal, made fresh on the day
We can trade as a stall or cook for crew, volunteers and VIP areas. For feeding crew and volunteers and charity and school events, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and giant-pan paella for your guests.
Near Hicks Forstal, events may be far from shops and cafés, so a hot-food stall is a big help. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Who books festival paella catering in Hicks Forstal?
Organisers book paella because it draws people into the food area and serves them fast.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Open days and community events
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Music and food festivals
Events in parks such as Curtis Wood need permission from the council or landowner, and we will send any documents they ask for.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The wet-weather plan
- Space, access and power needs
What affects the price in Hicks Forstal
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Your choice of paellas
- How long we’re needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and rough timings
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hicks Forstal, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
The menu, dish by dish
Giant paella pans
The huge pan is the star.
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels.
Organising for someone else?
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Where we can cook in Hicks Forstal
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Trader information and site rules
- Your arrangements for power, water and waste
- A pitch away from tents and structures
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
Also near Hicks Forstal
Other catering in Hicks Forstal
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
The process
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Evening events in Hicks Forstal 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.
- We confirm what we’ll serve, our pitch needs and any paperwork.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- Pans cook in full view and we serve throughout the event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
Thinking about festival paella catering for your event in Hicks Forstal? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Common questions in Hicks Forstal
Can you cook in Curtis Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Which station should guests use for Hicks Forstal?
The closest is Sturry station, roughly 2.2 miles away.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
Do you have the documents we need?
Tell us what the event needs and we will send it with our application.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Ask for allergen information at each stall
- Check how many portions traders can serve
- Plan for vegan and gluten-free visitors
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
Crew meals are served at set times.
Vegan paella alongside the rest.
- 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