Kent · England
Live paella catering in Hollow Street, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Hollow Street.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Birthday celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
Live paella catering in Hollow Street
Paella catering in Hollow Street, 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. For garden get-togethers and naming days and family parties, we can cook black rice, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
For a rural spot like Hollow Street, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
What affects the price in Hollow Street
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
- Where the event is
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Questions from Hollow Street
Do you come out to small places like Hollow Street?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook near the sea around Hollow Street?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you come to Hollow Street?
We do. We cook at events in Hollow Street and across Kent. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Planning live paella in Hollow Street
Hollow Street is about 3 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Hollow Street or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Hollow Street is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 6 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, Sturry station is about 3.6 miles away. The coast is within about 4 miles of Hollow Street, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cook at events all over the CT3 postcode area and the streets around it. If your venue is just outside Hollow Street, we also cover Chislet (1 mile north-east), Chitty (1 mile north-east), Old Tree (1 mile north-west), Boyden Gate (1 mile north) and Hoath (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (6 miles south-west), Margate (9 miles east), Dover (14 miles south), Ramsgate (10 miles east), Broadstairs (11 miles east) and Whitstable (7 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (5.1 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Nearby schools include Spires Academy (2.2 miles south-west)
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
What happens on the day
Here’s how the day generally runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Evenings in Hollow Street stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Why choose live paella in Hollow Street?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Live cooking, not reheated food
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
What else we do in Hollow Street
Events we cater in Hollow Street
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Hollow Street, people book us for occasions like:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Summer garden parties
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Chislet Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before you book anyone
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether travel is included
- How late numbers can change
- A clear list of what’s included
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
- 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