Kent · England
Paella Catering for Istead Rise events
Looking for paella catering in Istead Rise? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Company summer parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Planning an event in Istead Rise?
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. Around midsummer it stays light in Istead Rise until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- 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.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
Paella catering for your event in Istead Rise
The cooking is half the fun. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. We are often asked to cater leaving dos and retirements and summer garden parties, serving paella Valenciana, seafood paella and black rice.
In a hamlet or village like Istead Rise, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated.
Your questions about paella catering in Istead Rise
Do you come out to small places like Istead Rise?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cook in Jeskyns?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Where we can cook in Istead Rise
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Count adults and children separately
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Put allergy details in writing
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Istead Rise: venues, travel and local tips
Istead Rise is about 2 miles south of Northfleet, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the DA13 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. You can also see our page for London, about 20 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Istead Rise Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Jeskyns? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Anywhere in DA13, we can cook for your guests. Local streets include Elwill Way, Lesley Close and Upper Avenue; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Northfleet Green (1 mile north-west), Singlewell or Ifield (1 mile north-east), Southfleet (1 mile north-west), Painters Ash (1 mile north) and Henhurst (1 mile east). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (12 miles south-east), Dartford (6 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles south-west), Tonbridge (15 miles south), Swanley (8 miles west) and Kings Hill (9 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Gravesham Museum (2.7 miles north) and Stone Castle (4.1 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Sawyers Lake and Gad's Hill.
- Local schools include Saint George's Church of England School (1.7 miles north)
Why choose live paella in Istead Rise?
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Istead Rise. 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 us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Drinks service on request
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Nearby places to Istead Rise
Other catering in Istead Rise
What paella catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- The paellas you choose
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and rough timings
- Expected numbers
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Should I cook it myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is the pan people photograph.
- 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