Kent · England
Live paella catering in Claygate, Kent
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Claygate.
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering in Claygate
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How long we’re needed on site
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
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.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Paella catering in Claygate, made fresh on the day
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll recommend what fits your event. Typical bookings include milestone birthday parties and fairs, fêtes and festivals, serving chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and mixed paella.
In a rural place like Claygate, 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. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
Planning live paella in Claygate
Claygate is about 7 miles south-west of Maidstone, in Kent. From the centre of Claygate to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 28 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Marden station, about 1.8 miles east. Claygate is within about 7 miles of the High Weald 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.
Here we cover the TN12 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Sheephurst Lane, Maidstone Road and Spenny Lane or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to Claygate for paella catering include Pearson's Green (1 mile south-west), Marden Beech (2 miles south-east), Marden (2 miles east), Queen Street (2 miles north-west) and Castle Hill (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (7 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (14 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles west), Tonbridge (8 miles west), Kings Hill (7 miles north) and Foley Park (8 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include South East Romany Museum (2.7 miles east).
- Pubs nearby include The White Hart pub (less than half a mile west)
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
What we need at the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
How the day works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. Planning an evening event in Claygate? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning help
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Places near Claygate
More for events in Claygate
Claygate: your questions answered
Is Claygate close to London?
About 33 miles from central London.
Which station should guests use for Claygate?
The closest is Marden station, roughly 1.8 miles away.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Count adults and children separately
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Ask for labels on each pan
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Perfect for your event in Claygate
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Milestone birthday parties
- Retirement celebrations
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Margaret, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the price includes, item by item
- Payment terms and deposit
- How bad weather is handled
- 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