Kent · England
Paella Catering in Barming Heath
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Barming Heath.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Big birthdays
Book paella catering in Barming Heath
Barming Heath: venues, travel and local tips
Barming Heath is about 3 miles east of Kings Hill, in Kent. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Barming Heath. Barming Heath is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from Barming Heath to Canterbury (about 27 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Margaret, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Barming Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Barming Heath, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of Kent takes in ME16 and ME15, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Lower Road, Church Lane and Tonbridge Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Hoppers Corner (1 mile south), Kettle Corner (1 mile south-east), Farleigh Green (1 mile south), West Farleigh (1 mile south) and Teston (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (3 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (12 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south-west), Gravesend (12 miles north) and Tonbridge (9 miles south-west).
A little further out are Oakwood Hospital (1.3 miles north-east) and Fremlin Walk (2.8 miles east). Open spaces near Barming Heath include Boxley Hills.
- Local schools include St Simon Stock Catholic School (1.8 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Bull Inn (0.5 miles north-east)
Paella catering in Barming Heath, cooked live
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. We are often asked to cater fairs, fêtes and festivals and family celebrations and christenings, with vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice.
In a rural place like Barming Heath, the setting does plenty of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you. What matters most:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Step by step
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Planning an evening event in Barming Heath? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Towns and villages near Barming Heath
More for events in Barming Heath
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Tell us how many children are coming
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Questions from Barming Heath
Which station should guests use for Barming Heath?
East Farleigh station, about 1.1 miles east of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Margaret?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Barming Heath. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What you get with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Perfect for your event in Barming Heath
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Whatever you are celebrating in Barming Heath, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Parks such as Quarry Wood normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Before you book anyone
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether travel is included
- Payment terms and deposit
- How long the team stays
- 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