Kent · England
Paella Catering for Hogben's Hill events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Hogben's Hill.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering in Hogben's Hill
Paella catering in Hogben's Hill, cooked live
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. Popular choices include black rice, paella Valenciana and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for fairs, fêtes and festivals and leaving dos and retirements.
Somewhere like Hogben's Hill, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Put allergy details in writing
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Evenings in Hogben's Hill 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
Get a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Paella catering around Hogben's Hill
Hogben's Hill is about 3 miles south of Faversham, in Kent. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Hogben's Hill and the surrounding area. Hogben's Hill is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 7 miles away.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Selling Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Historic houses near Hogben's Hill include Belmont House and Gardens (2.9 miles west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Hogben's Hill, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Anywhere in ME13, we can bring paella catering to you. For events just outside Hogben's Hill, we cover Selling (1 mile east), Gushmere (1 mile north-east), Perrywood (1 mile south-east), Neames Forstal (1 mile east) and Crouch (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (9 miles south), Canterbury (7 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north-west), Whitstable (7 miles north-east), Faversham (3 miles north) and Herne Bay (12 miles north-east).
A little further out are Tower keep castle at Chilham (2.9 miles south-east).
- Local pubs include The White Lion Public House (0.5 miles east)
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Why choose paella catering in Hogben's Hill?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Hogben's Hill, people book us for events such as:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversary celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
- Company summer parties
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Before booking anyone
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The wet-weather plan
- The deadline for final numbers
Hogben's Hill: your questions answered
Is Hogben's Hill too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
What seafood can we have?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Nearby places to Hogben's Hill
More for events in Hogben's Hill
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
How we price paella catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Whether you need crockery
- How many staff you need
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Your date and when you want to eat
- What the venue already provides
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is normally the most photographed pan.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
- 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