Kent · England
Paella Catering in Etchinghill
Looking for paella catering in Etchinghill? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Big birthdays
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering for Etchinghill events
Planning the cooking area
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work. What matters most:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
About our paella catering in Etchinghill
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We will recommend what fits your event. We cook mixed paella, paella Valenciana and black rice, and we are regularly asked to cater birthday celebrations and anniversary celebrations.
Somewhere as small as Etchinghill, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Tell us what else is being served
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Paella catering around Etchinghill
Etchinghill is about 3 miles north of Hythe, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Etchinghill, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Etchinghill is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Lyminge Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Historic houses near Etchinghill include Acrise Place (2.4 miles north-east) and Westenhanger Castle (3 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Etchinghill is within about 4 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. The coast is within about 4 miles of Etchinghill, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cater events across the CT18 postcode area and the streets around it. From St Marys Close, Meriden Walk and St Marys Drive or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Etchinghill, we also cover Lyminge (1 mile north), Postling (1 mile west), Woodland (2 miles north-west), Skeete (2 miles north-west) and Ottinge (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (10 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (9 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-east), Deal (15 miles north-east) and Hythe (3 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Royal Victoria Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (1.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Etchinghill includes Tolsford Hill.
- Local schools include Brockhill Park Performing Arts College (2.4 miles south-west)
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in Etchinghill? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Events we cater in Etchinghill
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Birthday celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Sandling station, about 2 miles south-west.
Comparing caterers
- If the price includes VAT
- Space, access and power needs
- Who provides the crockery
- A clear list of what’s included
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Etchinghill? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What else we do in Etchinghill
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why Etchinghill hosts choose us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Etchinghill: your questions answered
How far is Etchinghill from London?
About 58 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What’s the nearest station to Etchinghill for guests?
Sandling station, about 2 miles south-west of the centre.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
What seafood can we have?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Which paellas suit our guests?
That depends on who’s coming. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
- 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