Kent · England
Live paella catering in Coldharbour, Kent
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Coldharbour and Kent, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Planning an event in Coldharbour?
Paella catering around Coldharbour
Coldharbour is about 2 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Coldharbour or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. We cook right across the region, from Coldharbour to London (about 24 miles away).
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, Hildenborough station is about 1.6 miles away.
Anywhere in TN11, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Other places close to Coldharbour for paella catering include Hildenborough (1 mile south-west), Hilden Park (1 mile south), Watt's Cross (1 mile west), Budds (1 mile north) and Stocks Green (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (12 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles south), Gravesend (15 miles north) and Northfleet (15 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Tonbridge Castle (2.2 miles south) and The Milne Museum (2 miles south). Not far away are Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve and Barden Lake.
- Nearby schools include Hugh Christie Technology College (1.4 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Flying Dutchman Public House (1 mile south-west)
Paella catering in Coldharbour, made fresh on the day
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there’s very little waste, and the food arrives hot. That’s why it works for so many events. Typical bookings include christenings and family gatherings and leaving dos and retirements, with vegetable paella, black rice and paella Valenciana.
In a hamlet or village like Coldharbour, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Nearby places to Coldharbour
Other catering in Coldharbour
Coldharbour: your questions answered
How far is Coldharbour from London?
Roughly 24 miles from the centre of London.
What’s the nearest station to Coldharbour for guests?
Hildenborough station, about 1.6 miles south-west of the centre.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
How much does paella catering cost in Coldharbour?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Occasions we cook for in Coldharbour
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Big birthdays
- Naming days and family parties
Historic houses near Coldharbour include Ightham Mote (2.2 miles north) and Knole House (3.6 miles north-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Comparing caterers
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- What happens if it rains
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Timings and hours
- How many guests are eating
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The address or venue name
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Coldharbour
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s normally the most photographed pan.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Coldharbour. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why book with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A clear, itemised quote
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
The process
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. In Coldharbour, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You share 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 paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Plan cover in case of rain
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
- 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