Kent · England
Paella Catering for Donkey Street events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Donkey Street. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Summer garden parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering near Donkey Street
How our paella catering works in Donkey Street
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Popular choices include black rice, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for summer garden parties and weddings and evening receptions.
In a small place like Donkey Street, 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. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Should I cook it myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Planning live paella in Donkey Street
Donkey Street is about 4 miles south-west of Hythe, in Kent. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Donkey Street and nearby villages. We cover 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Donkey Street to Canterbury (about 16 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Westenhanger station is about 3.4 miles away. Historic houses near Donkey Street include Westenhanger Castle (3.2 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Donkey Street is within about 4 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Paella catering in TN29 is planned around your venue. Other places close to Donkey Street for paella catering include Dymchurch (1 mile south), West Hythe (2 miles north-east), Lympne (2 miles north-east), Palmarsh (2 miles north-east) and Berwick (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (9 miles north-west), Dover (14 miles north-east), Folkestone (7 miles east), Hythe (4 miles north-east), Tower Hamlets (14 miles north-east) and Hawkinge (8 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Lympne Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Hythe Museum (3.6 miles east). Open spaces near Donkey Street include Tolsford Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Shepherd And Crook Public House (within half a mile west)
Nearby places to Donkey Street
Other catering in Donkey Street
The process
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. In Donkey Street, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, 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.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Planning help
Donkey Street: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Donkey Street?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Donkey Street for guests?
The closest is Westenhanger station, roughly 3.4 miles away.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Events in Donkey Street and across Kent
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Donkey Street
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Donkey Street book us for events such as:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Community events and fairs
- Christenings and family gatherings
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of All Saints, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What to look for in a quote
- How long the team stays
- How late numbers can change
- Whether travel is included
- What happens if it rains
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Confirm allergies by email
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood 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