Kent · England
Festival & event paella in Smarden Bell, Kent
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Smarden Bell.
- School and charity events
- Open days and community events
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
Planning an event in Smarden Bell?
About our festival paella catering in Smarden Bell
Because paella is cooked in big batches, it handles lunchtime rushes well. Each portion takes seconds to serve. Whether it is music and food festivals and country shows, we will put together a menu of giant-pan paella, churros and vegan paella and more.
At a field event near Smarden Bell, power and water may be limited; let us know and we’ll plan for it. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Smarden Bell events: pitches and permissions
Smarden Bell is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Events in Smarden Bell are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Smarden Bell is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
If you’re organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Smarden Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Headcorn station, about 2 miles west. Within about 8 miles is the High Weald National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
We cook at events all over TN27. That could mean an event in a garden on Bell Lane and Headcorn Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Swift's Green (1 mile north), Smarden (1 mile south-east), Biddenden Green (1 mile east), Monk's Hill (1 mile south) and Lashenden (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (10 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Romden Castle (1.8 miles south-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (2.8 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include The Bell Inn (within half a mile south)
Also near Smarden Bell
What else we do in Smarden Bell
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
- Ask traders about packaging and waste
- Give traders a single information pack
Crew meals are served at set times.
Churros and tapas can join the menu.
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. Summer events in Smarden Bell have daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer and about 7:00pm by late September, so evening trading generally finishes in daylight in high summer. Winter markets, dark by about 3:50pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- You send us the event, dates and pitch details.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- We cook in front of the crowd and serve from the pan all event.
- At the end, we clear our pitch.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
Common questions in Smarden Bell
Is Smarden Bell too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Which station should guests use for Smarden Bell?
Headcorn station, about 2 miles west of the centre.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Will you have a stall at our event?
Tell us about your event, and we will reply with our availability and what we need.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid for fish lovers.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A crowd-pleaser for meat eaters.
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Firm, level ground
- Vehicle access to the pitch at set-up and break-down
- The event’s site rules and timings
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Smarden Bell
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Churros
How we price festival paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- The length of service
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Guest numbers
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and time of the event
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want a trader that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Smarden Bell
- Events in Smarden Bell and across Kent
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
See How we price And The cost guide.
Planners, venues and businesses
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
- 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