Kent · England
Paella Catering for Hollybushes events
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 makes the food a highlight of your event in Hollybushes.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Community events and fairs
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering in Hollybushes
Questions from Hollybushes
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Hollybushes close to London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, including Kent. See all areas.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Does paella work for big events?
It’s ideal. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
About our paella catering in Hollybushes
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields in and around Hollybushes. Typical bookings include staff parties and work lunches and wedding breakfasts and evening food, with seafood paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
In a hamlet or village like Hollybushes, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Live paella in Hollybushes: local details
Hollybushes is about 4 miles south of Sittingbourne, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Hollybushes and nearby villages. We cook in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 15 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Milstead and Frinsted Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Parks such as Cromers Wood generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Hollybushes is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in ME9, we plan around your venue and your guests. For events just outside Hollybushes, we cover Bluetown (1 mile east), Milstead (1 mile north-west), Wichling (1 mile south-east), Doddington (1 mile east) and Frinsted (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (9 miles west), Ashford (12 miles south-east), Canterbury (15 miles east), Sittingbourne (4 miles north), Whitstable (13 miles east) and Faversham (7 miles east).
A little further out are Sittingbourne Heritage Museum (3.5 miles north) and Newnham Castle (2.7 miles east).
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
- The length of service
- Distance and access to the venue
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Where the event is
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why Hollybushes hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Catering across Kent, including Hollybushes
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
What happens on the day
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. In Hollybushes, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- 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.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Planning paella catering in Hollybushes? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Read more
Dishes our guests love
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.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s frequently the first pan to empty.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
Organising for someone else?
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
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.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Places near Hollybushes
More for events in Hollybushes
Events we cater in Hollybushes
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Community events and fairs
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversary celebrations
- Retirement and leaving parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Sittingbourne station, about 3.7 miles north.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Travel and parking costs
- The deadline for final numbers
- 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