Kent · England
Live paella catering in Chitty, Kent
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Chitty: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Big birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
Planning an event in Chitty?
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Paella catering for your event in Chitty
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. That’s why it works for so many events. For retirement celebrations and engagement and anniversary parties, we can cook paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and mixed paella for your guests.
In a hamlet or village like Chitty, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
What we need at the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you. The main points are:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
What affects the price in Chitty
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The length of service
- How many guests are eating
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many staff you need
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- What the venue already provides
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Your questions about paella catering in Chitty
Is Chitty 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.
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.
What happens with live paella?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
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. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Chitty: venues, travel and local tips
Chitty is about 4 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. From the centre of Chitty to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 7 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chislet Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The coast is within about 4 miles of Chitty, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cater events across CT3. If your venue is just outside Chitty, we also cover Chislet (1 mile west), Hollow Street (1 mile south-west), Boyden Gate (1 mile north-west), Old Tree (1 mile west) and Highstead (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (7 miles south-west), Margate (9 miles east), Dover (14 miles south), Ramsgate (9 miles east), Broadstairs (10 miles east) and Whitstable (7 miles west).
A little further out are St Martins Hospital (5.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Chitty include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Planners, venues and businesses
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.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
Also near Chitty
More for events in Chitty
Why choose paella catering in Chitty?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Birthday celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Herne Bay station, about 4 miles north-west.
What to look for in a quote
- How late numbers can change
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- What happens if it rains
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Is live paella right for your event?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why book with us
- Fast service from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- We cover Chitty and the whole of Kent
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
How it works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. In Chitty, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Name one person we can ask on the day
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, 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