Kent · England
Live paella catering in Kennington, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Kennington and across Kent.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering in Kennington
Paella catering for your event in Kennington
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are vegan paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for staff parties and work lunches and naming days and family parties.
For a place the size of Kennington, your own garden is frequently the best venue: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
Kennington: venues, travel and local tips
Kennington is about 2 miles north-east of Ashford, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Kennington will be, and we will plan access and set-up. Kennington is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Ashford International station, about 1.7 miles south. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Kennington is within about 3 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, 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.
This part of Kent takes in TN24 and TN25. Local streets include Park Road, York Road and Ball Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the A28, Kennington is easy for us to reach for your event. For events just outside Kennington, we cover Bockhanger (1 mile south-west), Potters Corner (1 mile west), Boughton Lees (2 miles north), Godinton (2 miles south-west) and Willesborough (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (12 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles north-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-east), Whitstable (14 miles north-east), Faversham (10 miles north) and Hythe (11 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find County Square (1.4 miles south-west) and William Harvey Hospital (2.1 miles south-east). Open spaces near Kennington include Hatch Park.
- Schools near Kennington include Towers School and Sixth Form Centre (0.5 miles north) and Towers School and Sixth Form Centre (0.5 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Rose Inn (less than half a mile north)
What affects the price in Kennington
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Travel, parking and access
- The paellas you choose
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
- Expected numbers
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
FAQs for Kennington
Could we have live paella in Conningbrook Lakes Country Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that’s what it’s made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Is halal food available?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
How it works
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Around midsummer it stays light in Kennington until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Kennington? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in Kennington
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Kennington? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What you get with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Perfect for your event in Kennington
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Kennington:
- Garden get-togethers
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Milestone birthday parties
- Community events and fairs
Historic houses near Kennington include Godinton House (2.3 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether VAT is included
- The deposit and payment dates
- How long the team stays
Also near Kennington
Also in Kennington
- 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