Kent · England
Live paella catering in Ham, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Ham.
- Retirement celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering in Ham
Catering an event in Ham
Ham is about 3 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. For paella catering in Ham, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Ham is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 11 miles away.
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. For guests coming by train, Sandwich station is about 1.7 miles away. Ham is within about 4 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in CT14, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Close by, we cover events in Statenborough (1 mile north-west), Felderland (1 mile north), Worth (1 mile north-east), Marley (1 mile south-east) and Finglesham (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (11 miles west), Margate (10 miles north), Dover (8 miles south), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (7 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (9 miles north-east).
A little further out are Sandown Castle (3.1 miles east) and The Precinct Toy Collection (2.1 miles north). The countryside around Ham includes Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Schools near Ham include Sandwich Technology School (1.3 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Blue Pigeons pub (1 mile north-east)
Paella catering for your event in Ham
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will suggest what suits your event. We’re often asked to cater company summer parties and christenings and family gatherings, with mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella.
In a hamlet or village like Ham, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
How the day works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. In Ham, 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. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- 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.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Leave space around the cooking area
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Paella compared with other options
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Ham. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Ham
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Your choice of paellas
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Guest numbers
- How long we are needed on site
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The date and time of the event
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Confirm allergies by email
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Places near Ham
What else we do in Ham
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It’s the pan people photograph.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Common questions in Ham
Could we have live paella in Ham Fen?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, Kent included. See all areas.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Events we cater in Ham
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Big birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Ham Fen? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Before booking anyone
- What the price includes, item by item
- How long the team stays
- The wet-weather plan
- When payment is due
- 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