Kent · England
Live paella catering in Ashford, Kent
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Ashford and Kent, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering for Ashford events
About our paella catering in Ashford
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Ashford. For milestone birthday parties and retirement and leaving parties, we can cook seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice and more.
For an event in central Ashford, parking and access are what to plan; the cooking itself only needs a level, ventilated spot. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
Occasions we cook for in Ashford
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Ashford, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Company summer parties
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
For guests coming by train, Ashford has its own station, Ashford International station.
Before booking anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- When final numbers are due
- Space, access and power needs
- What the price includes, item by item
Before you choose a spot
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Live paella in Ashford: local details
Ashford is in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Ashford, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Christ Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Ashford Green Corridors? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Ashford, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the TN23, TN24, TN25 and TN26 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on Market Lane, Church Road and Station Road. You will find Ashford on the A20 and A28, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Ashford, we also cover Stanhope (1 mile south-west), Newtown (1 mile south-east), South Willesborough (1 mile south-east), Godinton (1 mile north-west) and Willesborough (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (13 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles east), Faversham (12 miles north), Hythe (10 miles south-east) and Davington (12 miles north). Ashford is among the bigger towns we cover in Kent, with plenty of venues for events.
Nearby you will also find William Harvey Hospital (2.1 miles east) and Ashford Designer Outlet (0.6 miles south-east). Not far away are Hatch Park.
- Schools near Ashford include Ashford School (0.8 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Locomotive pub (less than half a mile east)
What affects the price in Ashford
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- The length of service
- How many courses
- Waiting and bar staff
- The number of people
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- What the venue already provides
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Ashford, and we will put together a menu and price.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evenings in Ashford stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Planning paella catering in Ashford? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Read more
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Also near Ashford
Other catering in Ashford
Ashford: your questions answered
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Can you cook in Ashford Green Corridors?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Can we choose the seafood?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Live paella or other catering?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
- 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