Kent · England
Live paella catering in Ashley, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Ashley. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Staff parties and work lunches
Planning an event in Ashley?
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Paella catering in Ashley, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are mixed paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for office lunches and staff parties and summer garden parties.
Somewhere like Ashley, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Nearby places to Ashley
Also in Ashley
Paella catering around Ashley
Ashley is about 4 miles north of Dover, in Kent. Across the CT15 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Ashley is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Ashley to Canterbury (about 11 miles away).
Historic houses near Ashley include Walmer Castle (4.3 miles east) and Goodnestone Park (4.9 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Martin Mill station, about 2.4 miles south-east. Ashley is within about 5 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cover events in every part of the CT15 postcode area and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Chapel Lane, Northdowns Close and Waldershare Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Studdal (1 mile north-east), East Studdal (1 mile north-east), West Langdon (1 mile south-east), Sutton (2 miles east) and Church Whitfield (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (11 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north), Dover (4 miles south), Folkestone (10 miles south-west), Ramsgate (11 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (13 miles north-east).
A little further out are Walmer Castle (4.3 miles east) and Buckland Hospital (4.1 miles south).
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Your questions about paella catering in Ashley
What’s the nearest station to Ashley for guests?
Martin Mill station, about 2.4 miles south-east of the centre.
Is Ashley too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it is worth asking.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Why choose paella catering in Ashley?
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Community events and fairs
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Summer garden parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as East Studdal Church Hall, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Questions to ask before booking
- Payment terms and deposit
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How late numbers can change
- How each diet is kept separate
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.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Where we can cook in Ashley
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The venue or postcode
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and rough timings
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
How it works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Planning an evening event in Ashley? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
- 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