Kent · England
Live paella catering in Dungeness, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Dungeness.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
Paella catering in Dungeness
How our paella catering works in Dungeness
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Whether it is christenings and family gatherings and summer garden parties, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and paella Valenciana and more.
In a small place like Dungeness, events are normally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is the pan people photograph.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Where we can cook in Dungeness
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Dungeness
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Events we cater in Dungeness
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Company summer parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Questions to ask before you book
- A clear list of what’s included
- Space, access and power needs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- VAT, if it applies
Common questions in Dungeness
Is Dungeness too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Dungeness close to London?
Roughly 61 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
What does paella catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, Kent included. See all areas.
Do you cater in Dungeness?
We do. Dungeness is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
Nearby places to Dungeness
More for events in Dungeness
Working with your venue
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Expected numbers
- Any dietary needs and allergies
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Dungeness, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
How the day works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in Dungeness stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Dungeness: venues, travel and local tips
Dungeness is about 11 miles south-west of Hythe, in Kent. For paella catering in Dungeness, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. We cook right across the region, from Dungeness to Canterbury (about 25 miles away).
Here we cover the TN29 postcode area. Streets in the area include Dungeness Road and Reactoe One Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Dungeness, we also cover Lydd-on-Sea (2 miles north), Greatstone-on-Sea (4 miles north), Lydd (4 miles north-west), Littlestone-on-Sea (4 miles north) and New Romney (5 miles north). Larger places within reach include Folkestone (14 miles north-east), Hythe (11 miles north-east), Cheriton (14 miles north-east), South Willesborough (15 miles north), Dymchurch (8 miles north) and Willesborough (15 miles north).
A little further out are Lydd Town Museum (3.7 miles north-west). The countryside around Dungeness includes RSPB Dungeness and Burnthouse Pen.
- Local pubs include Britannia Inn (0.5 miles south)
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Give us separate numbers for children
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
- 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