Kent · England
Paella Catering in Boxley
Planning paella catering in Boxley? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering for Boxley events
About our paella catering in Boxley
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We cook mixed paella, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella, and we’re often booked for family celebrations and christenings and company summer parties.
In a rural place like Boxley, the setting does a lot of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Catering an event in Boxley
Boxley is about 3 miles north of Maidstone, in Kent. From the centre of Boxley to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Boxley is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Boxley to Canterbury (about 23 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Stoneacre (4 miles south). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Mary's and All Saints Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Boxley. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in ME14 is planned around your venue and timings. We can cater an event on streets such as The Street, Styles Lane and Pilgrims Way. We also cook at events in Dunn Street (2 miles north-east), Lidsing (2 miles north-east), Kit's Coty (2 miles north-west), Lordswood (2 miles north) and Scragged Oak (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (3 miles south), Sittingbourne (9 miles east), Gravesend (11 miles north-west), Tonbridge (14 miles south-west), Faversham (15 miles east) and Northfleet (12 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include KIMS hospital (1.4 miles south) and Allington Castle (1.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Local schools include Valley Park School (2.1 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The King's Arms (less than half a mile south)
Places near Boxley
More for events in Boxley
Events we cater in Boxley
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Company summer parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big birthdays
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Sandling Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Questions to ask before you book
- A clear list of what’s included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The deadline for final numbers
- How long the team stays
How we price paella catering
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
- Guest numbers
Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Where the event is
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Your date and when you want to eat
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Boxley, and we will put together a menu and price.
Boxley questions
Is Boxley close to London?
About 31 miles from central London.
What’s the nearest station to Boxley for guests?
Maidstone East station, about 2.2 miles south-west of the centre.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
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.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. 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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Diets, allergies and planning
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
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why Boxley hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A quote that spells everything out
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Boxley until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
- 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