Kent · England
Paella Catering in Arpinge
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Arpinge. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Milestone birthday parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Paella catering for Arpinge events
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Make sure each pan is labelled
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Paella catering in Arpinge, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Arpinge. For summer garden parties and festivals, fairs and school events, we can cook vegetable paella, mixed paella and seafood paella for your guests.
In a hamlet or village like Arpinge, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Should I cook it 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.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Where we can cook in Arpinge
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Common questions in Arpinge
Is Arpinge too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
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.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
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 do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Arpinge. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Catering across Kent, including Arpinge
- A quote that spells everything out
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
The process
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Planning an evening event in Arpinge? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Nearby places to Arpinge
Also in Arpinge
Events we cater in Arpinge
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Retirement celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversary celebrations
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Oswald's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Questions to ask before booking
- How late numbers can change
- Payment terms and deposit
- Staff numbers and hours
- What the price includes, item by item
How we price paella catering
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- The number of people
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
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.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Catering an event in Arpinge
Arpinge is about 1 mile south-west of Hawkinge, in Kent. For paella catering in Arpinge, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
Historic houses near Arpinge include Acrise Place (2.1 miles north) and Westenhanger Castle (4.4 miles west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Folkestone West station, about 1.7 miles south-east. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Arpinge, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Arpinge is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Here we cover the CT18 postcode area. For events just outside Arpinge, we cover Hawkinge (1 mile north-east), Densole (2 miles north-east), Old Hawkinge (2 miles east), Swingfield Minnis (3 miles north-east) and Elham (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (12 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (8 miles east), Deal (14 miles north-east), Hythe (3 miles south-west) and Tower Hamlets (7 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Royal Victoria Hospital (2.2 miles south-east) and Folkestone Castle (1.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Arpinge include Cheriton Hill.
- Schools near Arpinge include Turner Free School (1.3 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Cat & Custard Pot pub (0.7 miles north)
- 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