Kent · England
Paella Catering for Hackington events
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hackington.
- Big birthdays
- Retirement celebrations
- Company summer parties
Paella catering for Hackington events
About our paella catering in Hackington
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own, so diets are easy to manage. Whether it is anniversaries and engagement parties and wedding breakfasts and evening food, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, black rice and paella Valenciana and more.
For a rural spot like Hackington, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
Who books paella catering in Hackington?
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Hackington, people book us for occasions like:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Community events and fairs
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Big birthdays
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Cosmus and St Damian, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Comparing caterers
- How bad weather is handled
- Travel and parking costs
- The deadline for final numbers
- Staff numbers and hours
Places near Hackington
What else we do in Hackington
Should I cook it myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Planning live paella in Hackington
Hackington is about 2 miles north of Canterbury, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Hackington, and we will plan access and set-up. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as The Archbishop's School, can book us as a food stall. Parks such as Tyler Hill Meadow typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Hackington is within about 5 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cover events in every part of the CT2 postcode area and the streets around it. Local streets include Link Road, Fleets Lane and Darwin Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Tyler Hill (1 mile north-west), Blean (1 mile west), Honey Hill (2 miles north-west), Radfall (2 miles north) and Denstroude (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (14 miles south-west), Margate (14 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles west), Ramsgate (15 miles east) and Whitstable (4 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Canterbury Castle (2 miles south) and Whitefriars Shopping Centre (1.9 miles south). The countryside around Hackington includes Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Schools near Hackington include St Stephen's Junior School (0.9 miles south) and St Edmund's School (1.1 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include Ye Olde Beverlie Inn (1 mile south)
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Expected numbers
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Diets and allergies you know about
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Common questions in Hackington
Is Hackington close to London?
About 52 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Hackington?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Hackington.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. In Hackington, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised 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.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or CT2 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Why choose live paella in Hackington?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Events in Hackington and across Kent
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
See How we price Or The cost guide.
- 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