Kent · England
Festival & event paella in Lower Hardres, Kent
Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Lower Hardres: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Summer fairs and fêtes
- Festivals
- Feeding crew and volunteers
Festival paella catering near Lower Hardres
Festival paella catering in Lower Hardres, cooked live
Paella in a bowl is perfect festival food, on the move or on a picnic rug. For open days and community events and music and food festivals, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, giant-pan paella and churros.
At a field event near Lower Hardres, power and water may be limited; tell us what’s available and we will plan around it. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Community events around Lower Hardres
Lower Hardres is about 3 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. For an event in Lower Hardres, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent.
For visitors coming by rail, Canterbury East station is about 2.7 miles away. School fairs, for a school like Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Within about 6 miles is the Kent Downs National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
This part of Kent takes in CT4. Close by, we cover events in Street End (1 mile north), Pett Bottom (1 mile south-east), Nackington (1 mile north), Upper Hardres (1 mile south) and Petham (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (3 miles north), Dover (12 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south), Whitstable (8 miles north) and Deal (14 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Kent and Canterbury Hospital (2.2 miles north) and Whitefriars Shopping Centre (2.9 miles north). The countryside around Lower Hardres includes Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby, you will find The Duck pub (0.8 miles south-east)
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
How we price festival paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Whether you need crockery
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Travel, parking and access
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The address or venue name
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Put all trader information in one pack
- Ask for allergen information at each stall
We clear the pitch and leave it as we found it.
Vegan paella alongside the rest.
The process
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell normally draws people over. Evening events in Lower Hardres have light until about 9:15pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Tell us about the event, the crowd and the pitch.
- We reply with our menu, prices for visitors and requirements.
- We send the documents the event asks for.
- We time the first pans for the lunchtime rush.
- At close, we pack down and tidy up.
Getting ready for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Leave space around the cooking area
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Live paella or other catering?
If you want a trader that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Nearby places to Lower Hardres
Other catering in Lower Hardres
Lower Hardres: your questions answered
Is Lower Hardres close to London?
About 54 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you provide dessert?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Do you have the documents we need?
Share your trader requirements and we will respond.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you need water?
We will confirm our needs once we know the pitch details.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
What we need at the venue
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Vehicle access before and after the event
- Trader information and site rules
- A pitch away from tents and structures
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Vegan paella
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is a festival favourite.
Vegan paella
Vegan visitors get a real meal.
- 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