Kent · England
Paella Catering in Bethersden
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Bethersden and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Garden get-togethers
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering for Bethersden events
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Confirm allergies by email
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Tell us what else is being served
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Paella catering in Bethersden, cooked live
There’s something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. For garden get-togethers and leaving dos and retirements, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella and more.
In a small place like Bethersden, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Bethersden: your questions answered
How far is Bethersden from London?
About 45 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is Bethersden 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.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Paella catering around Bethersden
Bethersden is about 5 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Bethersden or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 18 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Pluckley station, about 2 miles north. Nearby historic houses include Godinton House (4 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
This part of Kent takes in TN26, so your event can be anywhere in it. We can cater an event on streets such as The Dene, Forge Hill and Forgefield or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Wissenden (1 mile north-west), Further Quarter (2 miles west), Chambers' Green (2 miles north), Maltman's Hill (2 miles north-west) and High Halden (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (14 miles north-west), Ashford (5 miles east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Hythe (15 miles east) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Woodchurch Village Life Museum (3.1 miles south) and Romden Castle (2.4 miles north-west). Open spaces near Bethersden include Orlestone Forest.
- Pubs nearby include The George Public House (less than half a mile north-west)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and normally costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What you get with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- We cover Bethersden and the whole of Kent
- A clear, itemised quote
See How we price And The cost guide.
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Your date and when you want to eat
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. Around midsummer it stays light in Bethersden 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.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Where we can cook in Bethersden
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Events we cater in Bethersden
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Big birthdays
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
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.
What your quote should include
- The wet-weather plan
- How late numbers can change
- If the price includes VAT
- When payment is due
Should I cook it myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Nearby places to Bethersden
What else we do in Bethersden
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
- 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