Kent · England
Paella Catering for Barfrestone events
Planning paella catering in Barfrestone? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Planning an event in Barfrestone?
Paella catering in Barfrestone, made fresh on the day
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will suggest what suits your event. Whether it’s fairs, fêtes and festivals and summer garden parties, we’ll put together a menu of vegetable paella, paella Valenciana and mixed paella and more.
Somewhere like Barfrestone, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Live paella or other catering?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Barfrestone
- A quote that spells everything out
- Events in Barfrestone and across Kent
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Places near Barfrestone
More for events in Barfrestone
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Guest numbers
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell normally draws people over. Around midsummer it stays light in Barfrestone until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- 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 paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Related guides
Common questions in Barfrestone
Do you come out to small places like Barfrestone?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Nicholas?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Have seats for most of your guests
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Barfrestone: venues, travel and local tips
Barfrestone is about 5 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. For paella catering in Barfrestone, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Barfrestone. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 9 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Shepherds Well station, about 1.3 miles south-west. Historic houses near Barfrestone include Goodnestone Park (2.7 miles north). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Barfrestone, 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.
We cater events across CT15. We also cook at events in Frogham (1 mile north-west), Elvington (1 mile east), Nonington (1 mile north-west), Snowdown (2 miles north-west) and Woolage Village (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (9 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north-east), Dover (5 miles south-east), Folkestone (9 miles south), Ramsgate (12 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Buckland Hospital (5.5 miles south-east).
- 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