Kent · England
Live paella catering in Hampton, Kent
Looking for paella catering in Hampton? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Retirement celebrations
Paella catering near Hampton
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Paella catering in Hampton, cooked live
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll suggest what suits your event. For milestone birthday parties and family celebrations and christenings, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
There may be a hall or club near Hampton if your garden is small; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
How it works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Around midsummer it stays light in Hampton until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Why choose live paella in Hampton?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What you get with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Who books paella catering in Hampton?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
For guests coming by train, Herne Bay station is about 1 mile away.
What to look for in a quote
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deadline for final numbers
- The wet-weather plan
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Planning live paella in Hampton
Hampton is about 2 miles west of Herne Bay, in Kent. For paella catering in Hampton, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Hampton is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 6 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Hampton Primary School, can book us as a food stall. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Andrew's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Hampton is within about 2 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
This part of Kent takes in CT6. Streets in the area include Riley Avenue, Essex Avenue and Alvis Avenue, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Close by, we cover events in Swalecliffe (2 miles south-west), West End (2 miles south), Chestfield (2 miles south-west), Tankerton (2 miles west) and Radfall (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (6 miles south), Margate (12 miles east), Ramsgate (14 miles east), Broadstairs (14 miles east), Faversham (10 miles south-west) and Minster (13 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (2.2 miles west) and Tankerton Castle (2.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Schools near Hampton include Herne Bay High School (0.9 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include Hampton Inn (under half a mile north-east)
FAQs for Hampton
Can you cook near the sea around Hampton?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What’s the nearest station to Hampton for guests?
Herne Bay station, about 1 mile south-east of the centre.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, Kent included. Find your area.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Which paella is most popular?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ask for labels on each pan
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Places near Hampton
What else we do in Hampton
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
For planners, venues and organisers
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The number of people
- The length of service
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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