Kent · England
Paella Catering for Hazelwood events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hazelwood. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
Planning an event in Hazelwood?
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Hazelwood
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Paella catering for your event in Hazelwood
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 is company summer parties and engagement and anniversary parties, we’ll put together a menu of vegan paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
Somewhere like Hazelwood, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Hazelwood: venues, travel and local tips
Hazelwood is about 4 miles south of Orpington, in Kent. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Hazelwood and nearby villages. Hazelwood is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for London, about 14 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Downe Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chelsfield station, about 2.1 miles north-east. Hazelwood is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of the TN14 postcode area and the streets around it. Local streets include Hazelwood Road, Cudham Lane North and Spinney Way; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Downe (1 mile west), Luxted (1 mile south-west), Cudham (1 mile south), Single Street (1 mile south-west) and Green Street Green (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Dartford (10 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (6 miles south-east), Gravesend (15 miles north-east), Tonbridge (13 miles south-east), Northfleet (14 miles north-east) and Swanley (6 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Orpington Hospital (2.1 miles north-east) and Crofton Roman Villa (2.7 miles north). Open spaces near Hazelwood include Betsom's Hill and Downe Bank Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Hazelwood include Green Street Green Primary School (1.4 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include George and Dragon pub (0.9 miles west)
FAQs for Hazelwood
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Do you come out to small places like Hazelwood?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Can you cook indoors?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What affects the price in Hazelwood
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and rough timings
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Hazelwood? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- We cover Hazelwood and the whole of Kent
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It is typically the most photographed pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Towns and villages near Hazelwood
Other catering in Hazelwood
How it works
Here’s how the day usually runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in Hazelwood stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hazelwood, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Should I cook it myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
- 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