Kent · England
Live paella catering in Farthing Green, Kent
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Farthing Green: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Birthday celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Live paella catering in Farthing Green
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Paella catering for your event in Farthing Green
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. Once it is ready, we serve it hot from the pan. For summer garden parties and engagement and anniversary parties, we can cook vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella.
Somewhere as small as Farthing Green, a garden or field is frequently the venue. 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. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Planning live paella in Farthing Green
Farthing Green is about 6 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. For paella catering in Farthing Green, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Farthing Green is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Farthing Green to Canterbury (about 22 miles away).
Historic houses near Farthing Green include Stoneacre (4.4 miles north) and Leeds Castle (4.4 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Farthing Green, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in TN12, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Other places close to Farthing Green for paella catering include Devil's Den (1 mile north-west), Hawkenbury (1 mile south-west), Rabbit's Cross (2 miles west), Cross-at-Hand (2 miles west) and Staplehurst (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (6 miles north-west), Ashford (12 miles east), Sittingbourne (12 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles west), Tonbridge (14 miles west) and Faversham (15 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Brattle Farm Museum (3.4 miles south-west) and Sutton Valence Castle (1.6 miles north).
Where we can cook in Farthing Green
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Whether you need crockery
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- How many courses
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 to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- What the venue already provides
- The venue or postcode
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
Who books paella catering in Farthing Green?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Farthing Green:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Community events and fairs
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
For guests coming by train, Staplehurst station is about 2.1 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- The venue requirements
- How late numbers can change
- How each diet is kept separate
- What happens if it rains
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Farthing Green hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Events in Farthing Green and across Kent
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests typically gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Farthing Green 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’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Common questions in Farthing Green
Is Farthing Green too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Farthing Green from London?
About 37 miles from central London.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, Kent included. Find your area.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Nearby places to Farthing Green
What else we do in Farthing Green
- 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