Kent · England
Live paella catering in Goudhurst, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Goudhurst and the surrounding area.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Garden get-togethers
- Big birthdays
Paella catering near Goudhurst
Paella catering for your event in Goudhurst
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We are often asked to cater summer garden parties and retirement celebrations, serving black rice, vegetable paella and mixed paella.
Somewhere as small as Goudhurst, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Mention any other courses or food
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Where we can cook in Goudhurst
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Why choose paella catering in Goudhurst?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
Thinking of a picnic-style party in The Gill? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- When payment is due
- Space, access and power needs
- When final numbers are due
Goudhurst: venues, travel and local tips
Goudhurst is about 8 miles east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the TN17 area, we can cook for your guests. Goudhurst is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 29 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Scotney Castle (2.6 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 Goudhurst and Kilndown Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Goudhurst, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Here we cover the TN17 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include High Street, Church Road and Back Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside Goudhurst, we cover Smallbridge (1 mile north-west), Brandfold (1 mile north), Broad Ford (1 mile north-west), Capel Cross (2 miles north) and Glassenbury (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (11 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles west), Tonbridge (10 miles north-west), Kings Hill (11 miles north), Foley Park (12 miles north) and Paddock Wood (5 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Finchcocks Musical Museum (1.6 miles south-west) and Ticehurst House Hospital (5.1 miles south-west). Not far away are Bewl Water.
- Nearby, you will find The Star And Eagle Hotel (within half a mile north-east)
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Guest numbers
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Whether you need crockery
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Your date and when you want to eat
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Questions from Goudhurst
Is Goudhurst close to London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Mary's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll help you decide the split.
How much does paella catering cost in Goudhurst?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. In Goudhurst, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
Planning paella catering in Goudhurst? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, use our quote form.
Read more
Towns and villages near Goudhurst
Also in Goudhurst
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
- 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