Kent · England
Live paella catering in Hawley, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hawley. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Anniversary celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
Paella catering for Hawley events
Perfect for your event in Hawley
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Hawley, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Retirement celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
Parks such as Darenth Country Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- How late numbers can change
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
About our paella catering in Hawley
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 Hawley. We’re frequently asked to cater anniversary celebrations and garden get-togethers, serving paella Valenciana, black rice and mixed paella.
For a rural spot like Hawley, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Hawley
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. In Hawley, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hawley, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Also in Hawley
Questions from Hawley
We are having a ceremony at Church of St John the Baptist: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Could we have live paella in Darenth Country Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Paella catering around Hawley
Hawley is about 1 mile south of Dartford, in Kent. For paella catering in Hawley, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover 922 places across Kent. You can also see our page for London, about 15 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Farningham Road station is about 1.5 miles away. Nearby historic houses include Hall Place and Gardens (3.3 miles north-west) and Lullingstone Castle (4.6 miles south). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Hawley, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
This part of Kent takes in DA2. From Ash Road, May Road and Shirehall Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Clement Street (1 mile south-west), Sutton at Hone (1 mile south-east), Darenth (1 mile east), Dartford (1 mile north) and St Margarets (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Sevenoaks (10 miles south), Gravesend (7 miles east), Northfleet (5 miles east), Swanley (3 miles south-west), Kings Hill (13 miles south-east) and Swanscombe (3 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Bluewater (2.4 miles north-east) and Darenth Park Hospital (1.7 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Wansunt Pit and Sawyers Lake.
- Nearby schools include Leigh Academy (1.2 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Four Lymes pub (within half a mile north)
- 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