Kent · England
Paella Catering for Comp events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Comp and across Kent.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering near Comp
Paella catering in Comp, cooked live
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We are frequently asked to cater engagement and anniversary parties and staff parties and work lunches, serving vegetable paella, paella Valenciana and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a small place like Comp, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Occasions we cook for in Comp
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Milestone birthday parties
For guests coming by train, Borough Green & Wrotham station is about 1.5 miles away.
What your quote should include
- Who provides the crockery
- Space, access and power needs
- VAT, if it applies
- Payment terms and deposit
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It is typically the most photographed pan.
Working with your venue
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
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.
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Evenings in Comp stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Comp, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
Nearby places to Comp
Also in Comp
Paella compared with other options
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Comp
- Events in Comp and across Kent
- Fast service from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Live paella in Comp: local details
Comp is about 3 miles west of Kings Hill, in Kent. Events in Comp are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Comp is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Comp to London (24 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Old Soar Manor (1.7 miles south-west) and Ightham Mote (3.5 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Platt Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Comp is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cook at events all over the TN15 postcode area and the streets around it. Other places close to Comp for paella catering include Platt (1 mile north-west), Wrotham Heath (1 mile north-east), Crouch (1 mile south-west), Claygate Cross (1 mile south-west) and Borough Green (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (8 miles east), Dartford (12 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (7 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles north) and Tonbridge (7 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Ightham Court (2.3 miles west) and Beechin Wood Archery Museum (less than half a mile west).
- Schools near Comp include Wrotham School (1.6 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Blue Anchor pub (0.7 miles north-west)
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Comp
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Your questions about paella catering in Comp
Is Comp too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
How much does paella catering cost in Comp?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that is what it is made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
- 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