Kent · England
Live paella catering in Hamstreet, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hamstreet and the surrounding area.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Big birthdays
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering for Hamstreet events
How our paella catering works in Hamstreet
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. Whether it’s weddings and evening receptions and engagement and anniversary parties, we can cook seafood paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
In a rural place like Hamstreet, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Questions from Hamstreet
Is Hamstreet close to London?
Roughly 51 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
What’s the nearest station to Hamstreet for guests?
Ham Street station, in Hamstreet itself.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, including Kent. See all areas.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you cook indoors?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
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.
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Evenings in Hamstreet stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Towns and villages near Hamstreet
More for events in Hamstreet
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Tell us what else is being served
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Catering an event in Hamstreet
Hamstreet is about 5 miles south of Ashford, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Hamstreet and the surrounding area. Hamstreet is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 18 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Hamstreet has its own station, Ham Street station. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Hamstreet Primary Academy, can book us as a food stall.
Here we cover the TN26 postcode area. We can cater an event on streets such as The Street, Dukes Meadow and Rectory Walk. Other places close to Hamstreet for paella catering include Orlestone (1 mile north-west), Ruckinge (1 mile east), Kenardington (2 miles west), Bromley Green (2 miles north) and Stone Cross (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (5 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles east), Hythe (10 miles east), Hawkinge (14 miles east), Tenterden (7 miles west) and Cheriton (13 miles east).
A little further out are Brenzett Aeronautical Museum (3.9 miles south) and William Harvey Hospital (5.8 miles north-east). Open spaces near Hamstreet include Orlestone Forest.
- Local pubs include The Dukes Head pub (less than half a mile west)
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- The number of people
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the space, if you can
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Hamstreet
- Catering across Kent, including Hamstreet
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria and bar staff available
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
- 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