Kent · England
Paella Catering for Charing Heath events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Charing Heath: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering in Charing Heath
About our paella catering in Charing Heath
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. For garden parties and summer barbecues and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we will put together a menu of mixed paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana and more.
In a small place like Charing Heath, events are usually in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Tell us how many children are coming
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
Towns and villages near Charing Heath
Other catering in Charing Heath
Live paella in Charing Heath: local details
Charing Heath is about 7 miles north-west of Ashford, in Kent. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Charing Heath and nearby villages. Charing Heath is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Charing Heath to Canterbury (about 15 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Godinton House (4.7 miles south-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Charing station, about 1.2 miles east. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Charing Heath, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in TN27, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Wind Hill Lane, Cherry Tree Road and Charing Heath Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Lenham Heath (1 mile north-west), Stonebridge Green (1 mile south-west), Lenham Forstal (1 mile north-west), Charing (1 mile east) and Cold Harbour (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles west), Ashford (7 miles south-east), Canterbury (15 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north), Whitstable (15 miles north-east) and Faversham (9 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Coldbridge Castle (2.9 miles west).
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion Inn (under half a mile south-west)
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
What affects the price in Charing Heath
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Timings and hours
- Parking and unloading
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The address or venue name
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
Send us the date, your venue or TN27 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you are free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. Evenings in Charing Heath stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- 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.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Questions from Charing Heath
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of the Holy Trinity?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Live paella or other catering?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Events in Charing Heath and across Kent
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- A quote that spells everything out
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Occasions we cook for in Charing Heath
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
In Charing Heath and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Retirement celebrations
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of the Holy Trinity, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before booking
- The venue requirements
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- How late numbers can change
- The deposit and payment dates
- 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