Kent · England
Live paella catering in Goodnestone, Kent
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Goodnestone.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Paella catering in Goodnestone
Paella catering in Goodnestone, cooked live
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. Typical bookings include family celebrations and christenings and anniversaries and engagement parties, serving vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice.
In a hamlet or village like Goodnestone, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Paella catering around Goodnestone
Goodnestone is about 2 miles east of Preston, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Goodnestone will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 7 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Belmont House and Gardens (5 miles south-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Graveney Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Goodnestone is within about 5 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cook at events all over ME13. Whether your event is on Head Hill Road and Cherrywood or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to Goodnestone for paella catering include Culmers (1 mile north-east), Graveney (1 mile north-east), Broom Street (1 mile north), Staplestreet (1 mile south-east) and Slutshole (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (12 miles south), Canterbury (7 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles west), Whitstable (5 miles north-east), Herne Bay (9 miles north-east) and Minster (9 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (5.8 miles north-east). Not far away are Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Local schools include Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (1.7 miles west)
How it works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Planning an evening event in Goodnestone? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get 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.
Related guides
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Tell us what else is being served
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
Common questions in Goodnestone
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Bartholomew's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Goodnestone from London?
Roughly 46 miles from the centre of London.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Do you cater in Goodnestone?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Goodnestone is within our area and the rest of Kent. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Occasions we cook for in Goodnestone
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Bartholomew's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Space, access and power needs
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the price includes, item by item
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why Goodnestone hosts choose us
- Catering across Kent, including Goodnestone
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at Our pricing Or The cost guide.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
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.
Nearby places to Goodnestone
Also in Goodnestone
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
Working with your venue
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
- 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