Kent · England
Festival & event paella in Smeeth, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Smeeth. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Seasonal markets
- Village fêtes
- Sports clubs and race days
Live festival paella catering in Smeeth
Community events around Smeeth
Smeeth is about 5 miles east of Ashford, in Kent. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Smeeth. We cook in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, Westenhanger station is about 3.6 miles away. Running a fête for a church like Church of St Mary? A paella pan draws people in. Events in and around the Kent Downs National Landscape, within about 5 miles of Smeeth, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
This part of Kent takes in TN25, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Church Road, Caroland Close and Woolpack Hill or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Other places close to Smeeth for festival paella catering include Ridgeway (1 mile west), Brabourne Lees (1 mile north-east), Lilyvale (1 mile south-east), Bircholt Forstal (1 mile north-east) and Stone Hill (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (5 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles east), Folkestone (9 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north) and Hythe (6 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Lympne Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and William Harvey Hospital (2.6 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Hatch Park.
Festival paella catering in Smeeth, made fresh on the day
One paella stall covers many diets: separate meat, seafood and vegan pans. That makes life easier for organisers. We’re often asked to cater county and country shows and festivals, with seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and giant-pan paella.
At a fête or field event near Smeeth, we can bring hot food to a rural site. Tell us about the ground and access. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Why choose live paella in Smeeth?
If you want a trader that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Smeeth
- Fast service from the pan
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Catering across Kent, including Smeeth
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Questions from Smeeth
What’s the nearest station to Smeeth for guests?
Westenhanger station, about 3.6 miles south-east of the centre.
Can you run a stall at a school fair in Smeeth?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Where we can cook in Smeeth
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A pitch away from tents and structures
- A level pitch on firm ground
- The event’s site rules and timings
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Smeeth
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Tapas
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What festival paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
- Distance and access to the venue
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The address or venue name
- The date and rough timings
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Working with your venue
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Dishes our guests love
Vegan paella
A proper vegan main, in its own pan.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky and filling, popular with families.
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. For an evening event in Smeeth, sunset is about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June; 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.
- On the day, the pans are on before the busiest hours.
- At close, we pack down and tidy up.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Related guides
Nearby places to Smeeth
Also in Smeeth
Why choose festival paella catering in Smeeth?
It handles peak times well, because it’s served from big pans.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Community events and open days
- Sports clubs and race days
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- School fairs and fundraisers
School fairs, for a school like Smeeth Community Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
Questions to ask before booking
- Who provides the crockery
- How long the team stays
- Travel and parking costs
- The wet-weather plan
- 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