Kent · England
Paella Catering for High Halden events
Planning paella catering in High Halden? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Summer garden parties
Planning an event in High Halden?
How our paella catering works in High Halden
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. We cook seafood paella, black rice and mixed paella, and typical bookings are for engagement and anniversary parties and leaving dos and retirements.
In a small place like High Halden, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Perfect for your event in High Halden
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
In High Halden and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Milestone birthday parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as High Halden Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Comparing caterers
- The wet-weather plan
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether travel is included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
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 at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Give us separate numbers for children
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we normally call guests over.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Places near High Halden
More for events in High Halden
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in High Halden 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.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Your questions about paella catering in High Halden
Can you cater a reception after a service at Parish Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that is what it’s made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Organising for someone else?
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in High Halden? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Catering an event in High Halden
High Halden is about 7 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Events in High Halden are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. High Halden is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Pluckley station is about 3.9 miles away. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Parish Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. High Halden is within about 8 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in TN26 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on Woodgates Close, Little Robhurst and Tilden Close or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Further Quarter (1 mile north), Wissenden (2 miles north), Bethersden (3 miles north-east), Maltman's Hill (4 miles north) and Chambers' Green (4 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles north-west), Ashford (7 miles east), Foley Park (15 miles north-west), Paddock Wood (15 miles west), Tenterden (3 miles south) and Bearsted (13 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Romden Castle (2.9 miles north) and Woodchurch Village Life Museum (2.7 miles south-east).
- Schools near High Halden include Homewood School (1.9 miles south-west)
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why High Halden hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Events in High Halden and across Kent
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
See Our pricing 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