Kent · England
Live paella catering in Kingswood, Kent
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Kingswood.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Company summer parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering in Kingswood
Paella catering in Kingswood, made fresh on the day
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Whether it is christenings and family gatherings and office lunches and staff parties, we’ll put together a menu of black rice, mixed paella and vegetable paella for your guests.
In a hamlet or village like Kingswood, 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, never made in advance and reheated.
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Nearby places to Kingswood
Also in Kingswood
Perfect for your event in Kingswood
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Big birthdays
- Company summer parties
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement celebrations
Historic houses near Kingswood include Leeds Castle (1.5 miles north) and Stoneacre (2.9 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Questions to ask before booking
- Allergen information for each dish
- The deposit and payment dates
- If the price includes VAT
- The deadline for final numbers
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Live paella in Kingswood: local details
Kingswood is about 5 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Kingswood and the surrounding area. We cover 922 places in Kent. Our events stretch from Kingswood to Canterbury (about 20 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Harrietsham station, about 2.1 miles north-east. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Kingswood Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Kingswood is within about 3 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cook at events all over the ME17 postcode area. From Chestnut Drive, Bushy Grove and Tall Trees Close or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Kingswood, we also cover Chartway Street (1 mile south-west), Ulcombe (1 mile south-east), Broomfield (1 mile north), Fairbourne Heath (1 mile east) and Chegworth (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (5 miles north-west), Ashford (12 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north-east), Tonbridge (15 miles west), Faversham (13 miles north-east) and Minster (15 miles north-east).
A little further out are Leeds Castle (1.5 miles north) and KIMS hospital (5.2 miles north-west).
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
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.
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Timings and hours
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
- Which courses you have in mind
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Common questions in Kingswood
Is Kingswood too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Which station should guests use for Kingswood?
Harrietsham station, about 2.1 miles north-east of the centre.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Which paellas do you recommend?
That depends on who’s coming. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Tell us what else is being served
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
The process
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Around midsummer it stays light in Kingswood until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally 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.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Larger events normally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- Catering across Kent, including Kingswood
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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