Kent · England
Live paella catering in Cheriton, Kent
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Cheriton and Kent, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Summer garden parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Paella catering for Cheriton events
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella catering in Cheriton, cooked live
The cooking is half the fun. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. Whether it is community events and fairs and office lunches and staff parties, we will put together a menu of seafood paella, mixed paella and vegetable paella and more.
In and around Cheriton, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Also in Cheriton
How the day works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Cheriton until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Perfect for your event in Cheriton
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Cheriton, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
- Community events and fairs
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like All Soul's Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Questions to ask before you book
- The wet-weather plan
- VAT, if it applies
- Who provides the crockery
- Whether travel is included
What we need at the venue
We will be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s 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.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Planning live paella in Cheriton
Cheriton is about 1 mile west of Folkestone, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Cheriton, and we will plan the journey and set-up. Cheriton is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Acrise Place (3.4 miles north) and Westenhanger Castle (4.8 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Folkestone West station, about 0.6 miles south-east. Cheriton is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Cheriton is within about 2 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Here we cover the CT19, CT20 and CT50 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Oaks Road, Firs Lane and Star Lane or the roads around them. Being close to the M20, Cheriton is simple for us to get to. Other places close to Cheriton for paella catering include Sandgate (1 mile south), Folkestone (1 mile east), Peene (1 mile north-west), Newington (1 mile west) and Arpinge (1 mile north). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (12 miles west), Canterbury (13 miles north), Dover (8 miles north-east), Deal (14 miles north-east), Hythe (3 miles south-west) and Tower Hamlets (7 miles east).
A little further out are Sandgate Castle (1 mile south) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (1.3 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Sugar Loaf Hill.
- Local schools include Pent Valley Technology College (less than half a mile north-east) and The Folkestone Academy (1.1 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find White Lion pub (less than half a mile west)
What affects the price in Cheriton
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and time of the event
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Mention any other courses or food
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Common questions in Cheriton
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Could we have live paella in Lower Leas Coastal Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
What does paella catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we’ll reply with a price.
How many paellas should we have?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including Kent. Find your area.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Why choose live paella in Cheriton?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Cheriton hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Catering across Kent, including Cheriton
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
- 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