Kent · England
Paella Catering for Four Elms events
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Four Elms and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Garden get-togethers
- Big birthdays
- Retirement celebrations
Book paella catering in Four Elms
Four Elms: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Four Elms?
The closest is Edenbridge station, roughly 1.7 miles away.
Is Four Elms 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.
Can we choose the seafood?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
What happens with live paella?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can you cook indoors?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
About our paella catering in Four Elms
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. Once it’s ready, we serve it hot from the pan. On the menu are black rice, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and we are regularly asked to cater retirement and leaving parties and christenings and family gatherings.
For a rural spot like Four Elms, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Count adults and children separately
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Planning live paella in Four Elms
Four Elms is about 6 miles south-west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Four Elms and the surrounding area. Four Elms is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 21 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Edenbridge station, about 1.7 miles west. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Congregational Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Wherever your event is in TN8, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Pootings Road, Styles Close and Four Elms Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Pootings (1 mile north-west), Mowshurst (1 mile south-west), Puddledock (2 miles north), Marlpit Hill (2 miles west) and Edenbridge (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Sevenoaks (6 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (9 miles south-east), Tonbridge (8 miles east), Swanley (13 miles north), Kings Hill (14 miles east) and Paddock Wood (13 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Hever Castle (2.2 miles south) and Haxted Watermill Museum (3.4 miles south-west). The countryside around Four Elms includes Dryhill Nature Reserve.
- Local pubs include The Four Elms Public House (under half a mile south-east)
Nearby places to Four Elms
What else we do in Four Elms
What paella catering costs
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
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:
- Where the event is
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Send us the date, your venue or TN8 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Events we cater in Four Elms
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Four Elms and Kent:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Four Elms Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Questions to ask before booking
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Travel and parking costs
- How bad weather is handled
- A clear list of what’s included
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
How it works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. In Four Elms, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised 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.
How to prepare
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
- 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