Kent · England
Live paella catering in Finglesham, Kent
Looking for paella catering in Finglesham? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering near Finglesham
Paella catering for your event in Finglesham
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. For big birthdays and family celebrations and christenings, we can cook vegetable paella, black rice and paella Valenciana and more.
In a hamlet or village like Finglesham, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Finglesham 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Related guides
Common questions in Finglesham
Can you cook near the sea around Finglesham?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Could we have live paella in Betteshanger Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you cater in Finglesham?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Finglesham and across Kent. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Live paella or other catering?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why book with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Fast service from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
For event organisers in Finglesham
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Timings and hours
- The number of people
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Catering an event in Finglesham
Finglesham is about 2 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. From the centre of Finglesham to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Northbourne Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Betteshanger Park? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Finglesham is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cover events in every part of CT14. If your venue is just outside Finglesham, we also cover Marley (1 mile south-west), Hacklinge (1 mile north-east), Ham (1 mile north-west), Northbourne (1 mile south) and Sholden Meadows (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (12 miles west), Margate (10 miles north), Dover (7 miles south), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north) and Broadstairs (9 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Deal Museum (2.5 miles east) and Sandown Castle (2.4 miles east). The countryside around Finglesham includes Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Schools near Finglesham include Sandwich Technology School (2 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Crown Inn (less than half a mile south-east)
Nearby places to Finglesham
More for events in Finglesham
Why choose paella catering in Finglesham?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Finglesham, people book us for events such as:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St George, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What your quote should include
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- What happens if it rains
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether VAT is included
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Count adults and children separately
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
- 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