Kent · England
Live paella catering in Harbourland, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Harbourland and across Kent.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering for Harbourland events
Paella catering in Harbourland, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That’s what we bring to events in Harbourland. For engagement and anniversary parties and office lunches and staff parties, we will put together a menu of seafood paella, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella and more.
Somewhere like Harbourland, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Planning live paella in Harbourland
Harbourland is about 2 miles north of Maidstone, in Kent. For an event in Harbourland, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. Harbourland is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from Harbourland to Canterbury (about 23 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Maidstone East station is about 1.3 miles away. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Sandling Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Harbourland. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in ME14, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Penenden Heath (1 mile south), Foley Park (1 mile south), Grove Green (1 mile south-east), Ringlestone (1 mile west) and Sandling (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Sittingbourne (9 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (15 miles west), Gravesend (12 miles north-west), Tonbridge (13 miles south-west), Faversham (15 miles east) and Northfleet (13 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find KIMS hospital (0.9 miles south-east) and Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum (1.4 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Schools near Harbourland include Valley Park School (1.2 miles south)
- Local pubs include The King's Arms (0.7 miles north)
Where we can cook in Harbourland
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
How the day works
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Evenings in Harbourland stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Harbourland, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Also near Harbourland
What else we do in Harbourland
For event organisers in Harbourland
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Count adults and children separately
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The number of people
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The courses you’d like
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The date and time of the event
- Anything your venue supplies
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Why choose paella catering in Harbourland?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
In Harbourland and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Company summer parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Paul's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- When final numbers are due
- The wet-weather plan
- Staff numbers and hours
FAQs for Harbourland
Can you cook in Vinters Valley Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How far is Harbourland from London?
About 31 miles from central London.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you cook indoors?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Kent included. See all areas.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
- 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