Kent · England
Paella Catering for Aylesham events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Aylesham. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Retirement celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering near Aylesham
How it works
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 while your guests chat. Evenings in Aylesham stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
How our paella catering works in Aylesham
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there is very little waste, and the food arrives hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We’re often asked to cater milestone birthday parties and christenings and family gatherings, with paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Around Aylesham, events are often in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If access is tight, we’ll plan around it. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Towns and villages near Aylesham
Other catering in Aylesham
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Count adults and children separately
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Put allergy details in writing
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
- Distance and access to the venue
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Is live paella right for your event?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
About the dishes
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.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Aylesham: venues, travel and local tips
Aylesham is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Aylesham, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Aylesham is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 6 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Aylesham has its own station, Aylesham station. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Peter, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Aylesham is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in CT3, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Market Place, Mexborough Square and Derwent Way or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Bloodden (1 mile north), Adisham (1 mile north), Womenswold (1 mile south-west), Woolage Green (2 miles south) and Out Elmstead (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (13 miles north-east), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (10 miles south), Ramsgate (12 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (14 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find St Martins Hospital (5.2 miles north-west).
Who books paella catering in Aylesham?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Retirement celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
Historic houses near Aylesham include Goodnestone Park (1.6 miles north-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Questions to ask before you book
- If the price includes VAT
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How late numbers can change
- Staff numbers and hours
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
For event organisers in Aylesham
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Your questions about paella catering in Aylesham
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’ll follow the site rules.
We’re having a ceremony at St Peter: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Aylesham.
Can paella be the only main course?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
- 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