Kent · England
Live paella catering in Devil's Den, Kent
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Devil's Den: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Naming days and family parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Milestone birthday parties
Planning an event in Devil's Den?
Paella catering in Devil's Den, cooked live
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. For milestone birthday parties and community events and fairs, we will put together a menu of black rice, vegan paella and seafood paella for your guests.
Somewhere like Devil's Den, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Common questions in Devil's Den
Which station should guests use for Devil's Den?
Staplehurst station, about 1.8 miles south-west of the centre.
Is Devil's Den close to London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
What paella catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
- How long we’re needed on site
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Which courses you have in mind
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Devil's Den: venues, travel and local tips
Devil's Den is about 5 miles south of Maidstone, in Kent. Across the ME17 area, we can bring the pans to you. Devil's Den is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 23 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Staplehurst station, about 1.8 miles south-west. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Devil's Den, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cook at events all over ME17. We also cook at events in Farthing Green (1 mile south-east), Rabbit's Cross (1 mile west), Cross-at-Hand (1 mile west), Hawkenbury (1 mile south) and Staplehurst (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (5 miles north), Ashford (13 miles east), Sittingbourne (12 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles west), Tonbridge (13 miles west) and Kings Hill (9 miles north-west).
A little further out are Sutton Valence Castle (1.6 miles north-east) and South East Romany Museum (3 miles south-west).
Nearby places to Devil's Den
Also in Devil's Den
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Around midsummer it stays light in Devil's Den until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, 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 in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Devil's Den
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A clear, itemised quote
- We cover Devil's Den and the whole of Kent
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Count adults and children separately
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- 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