Kent · England
Live paella catering in Hunters Forstal, Kent
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hunters Forstal: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Garden get-togethers
- Anniversary celebrations
- Retirement and leaving parties
Planning an event in Hunters Forstal?
How our paella catering works in Hunters Forstal
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. Popular choices include mixed paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater anniversaries and engagement parties and milestone birthday parties.
For a rural spot like Hunters Forstal, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
Catering an event in Hunters Forstal
Hunters Forstal is about 1 mile south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. For paella catering in Hunters Forstal, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Hunters Forstal. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our events stretch from Hunters Forstal to Canterbury (6 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Bartholomew, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, Herne Bay station is about 1.1 miles away. Hunters Forstal is within about 2 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cover events in every part of the CT6 postcode area. From Mill Lane, Kingsfield Road and Hunters Forstal Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Broomfield (1 mile east), Herne (1 mile south-west), Herne Bay (1 mile north-west), Eddington (1 mile west) and Bullockstone (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (6 miles south-west), Margate (11 miles east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (12 miles east), Whitstable (5 miles west) and Deal (15 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (4 miles west) and Tankerton Castle (4.6 miles west). Open spaces near Hunters Forstal include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Nearby schools include Herne Bay High School (1.3 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find The Huntsman And Horn Public House (0.7 miles east)
Nearby places to Hunters Forstal
What else we do in Hunters Forstal
Paella compared with other options
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why book with us
- Events in Hunters Forstal and across Kent
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read How we price And The cost guide.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
The process
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. In Hunters Forstal, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
FAQs for Hunters Forstal
Is Hunters Forstal too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Hunters Forstal for guests?
The closest is Herne Bay station, roughly 1.1 miles away.
What happens with live paella?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
What seafood can we have?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Count adults and children separately
- Confirm allergies by email
- Ensure each pan is labelled
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.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
For planners, venues and organisers
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Occasions we cook for in Hunters Forstal
There’s no kitchen needed, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
In Hunters Forstal and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Retirement celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversary celebrations
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Herne Church of England Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before you book anyone
- If the price includes VAT
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- When final numbers are due
- The venue requirements
What affects the price in Hunters Forstal
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
- Travel, parking and access
- How many guests are eating
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and time of the event
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hunters Forstal, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
- 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