Kent · England
Live paella catering in Biddenden, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Biddenden. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Company summer parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering for Biddenden events
Occasions we cook for in Biddenden
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Retirement celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Festivals, fairs and school events
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Parish Church of All Saints, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What to look for in a quote
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The wet-weather plan
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Who provides the crockery
How our paella catering works in Biddenden
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are vegan paella, black rice and vegetable paella, and we are regularly asked to cater leaving dos and retirements and summer garden parties.
Somewhere as small as Biddenden, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Questions from Biddenden
How far is Biddenden from London?
About 41 miles from central London.
Which station should guests use for Biddenden?
Headcorn station, about 3.5 miles north of the centre.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
How many paellas should we have?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you cater in Biddenden?
We do. Biddenden is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Is paella enough as a main?
It is a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Live paella in Biddenden: local details
Biddenden is about 10 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. From the centre of Biddenden to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Biddenden is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Biddenden to Canterbury (about 22 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Headcorn station is about 3.5 miles away. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as John Mayne Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Biddenden, 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 TN27, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on High Street, The Meadows and Cloth Hall Gardens or the roads around them. Other places close to Biddenden for paella catering include Curteis' Corner (1 mile north-east), Woolpack Corner (1 mile south-east), Standen (1 mile north-east), Hareplain (1 mile north-west) and Stede Quarter (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (10 miles east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west), Foley Park (12 miles north-west), Paddock Wood (12 miles west) and Tenterden (4 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Benenden Hospital (2.3 miles south-west) and Sissinghurst Castle (2.6 miles west).
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion Inn (less than half a mile south-east)
Places near Biddenden
Also in Biddenden
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us what else is being served
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Put allergy details in writing
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
Live paella or other catering?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why Biddenden hosts choose us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Timings and hours
- Parking and unloading
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Biddenden
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Step by step
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in Biddenden until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Biddenden? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
- 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