Kent · England
Paella Catering for Church Hougham events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Church Hougham.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Planning an event in Church Hougham?
Paella catering for your event in Church Hougham
Paella is generous food: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. Popular choices include vegan paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re frequently booked for christenings and family gatherings and retirement and leaving parties.
In a rural place like Church Hougham, the setting does plenty of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Your questions about paella catering in Church Hougham
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Lawrence?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Church Hougham too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Church Hougham.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Do you cater in Church Hougham?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Church Hougham. For a quote, use our quote form.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Church Hougham: venues, travel and local tips
Church Hougham is about 3 miles south-west of Dover, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Church Hougham or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Church Hougham is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 14 miles away.
Parks such as Samphire Hoe Country Park usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Dover Priory station, about 2.3 miles north-east. Church Hougham is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, 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. Church Hougham is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
For paella catering in CT15, we plan around your venue and your guests. Other places close to Church Hougham for paella catering include West Hougham (1 mile west), Farthingloe (1 mile east), Satmar (1 mile west), Maxton (2 miles east) and Aycliffe (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (14 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles north-east), Folkestone (4 miles south-west), Deal (9 miles north-east), Hythe (8 miles west) and Walmer (9 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Dover Castle (3.1 miles east) and Buckland Hospital (2.1 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights and Sugar Loaf Hill.
Occasions we cook for in Church Hougham
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Big birthdays
- Garden get-togethers
- Company summer parties
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Lawrence, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What your quote should include
- Allergen information for each dish
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- When payment is due
- When final numbers are due
Places near Church Hougham
Other catering in Church Hougham
Should I cook it myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
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. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why Church Hougham hosts choose us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A quote that spells everything out
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
How it works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. In Church Hougham, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is 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.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
About the dishes
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
How we price paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- Travel, parking and access
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The courses you’d like
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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