Kent · England
Live paella catering in Ditton, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Ditton and the surrounding area.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden get-togethers
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering for Ditton events
How our paella catering works in Ditton
A couple of different pans covers everyone: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own. We cook black rice, vegan paella and mixed paella, and we are regularly asked to cater fairs, fêtes and festivals and birthday celebrations.
In a smaller place like Ditton, a garden party is often the simplest option: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Let us know about access to the house. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Events we cater in Ditton
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Garden get-togethers
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Birthday celebrations
Historic houses near Ditton include Starkey Castle (4.8 miles north). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
What your quote should include
- Who provides the crockery
- How bad weather is handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Exactly what’s included in the price
For planners, venues and organisers
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Larger events usually cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- We cover Ditton and the whole of Kent
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Towns and villages near Ditton
Other catering in Ditton
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Ditton: venues, travel and local tips
Ditton is about 4 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. For paella catering in Ditton, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Ditton is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from Ditton to Canterbury (about 27 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Ditton Quarry? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Ditton Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Here we cover the ME20 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include London Road, Station Road and Scott Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Ditton for paella catering include Aylesford (1 mile east), East Malling (1 mile west), Well Street (1 mile south-west), Allington (2 miles east) and West Malling (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (4 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (13 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (12 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Leybourne Castle (1.6 miles north-west) and Fremlin Walk (3.1 miles south-east). The countryside around Ditton includes Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
- Nearby schools include Aylesford School (0.5 miles north-east) and The Malling School (1 mile west)
- Pubs nearby include Kentish Quarryman pub (within half a mile north)
The process
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests generally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. In Ditton, 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 3:50pm, 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 early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
What affects the price in Ditton
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Travel, parking and access
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Your questions about paella catering in Ditton
Which station should guests use for Ditton?
Aylesford station, about 0.6 miles north-east of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Peter's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you come to Ditton?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Ditton and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
- 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