Kent · England
Live paella catering in Lamberhurst, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Lamberhurst and across Kent.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
Live paella catering in Lamberhurst
Paella catering in Lamberhurst, cooked live
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. For festivals, fairs and school events and summer garden parties, we can cook paella Valenciana, mixed paella and vegan paella and more.
In a hamlet or village like Lamberhurst, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
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.
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Confirm allergies by email
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We 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.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
Lamberhurst: your questions answered
How far is Lamberhurst from London?
About 35 miles from central London.
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
How many different paellas?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Lamberhurst: venues, travel and local tips
Lamberhurst is about 6 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Events in Lamberhurst are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 29 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Historic houses near Lamberhurst include Scotney Castle (0.9 miles south-east) and Wadhurst Castle (3.6 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Lamberhurst is within about 4 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in TN3, we can bring paella catering to you. Whether your event is on High Street, Church Road and Clivedon Court or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to Lamberhurst for paella catering include Lamberhurst Quarter (2 miles north-west), Key's Green (3 miles north-west), Petteridge (3 miles north), Brenchley (4 miles north) and Matfield (4 miles north). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (13 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (15 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles north-west), Tonbridge (8 miles north-west), Kings Hill (12 miles north) and Foley Park (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Ticehurst House Hospital (3.5 miles south) and Old Scotney Castle (1 mile south-east). The countryside around Lamberhurst includes Bewl Water.
- Nearby, you will find Horse And Groom Public House (within half a mile south-west)
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- The length of service
- Guest numbers
- Distance and access to the venue
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Your date and when you want to eat
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, fill in our quote form.
What happens on the day
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Around midsummer it stays light in Lamberhurst until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
Planning paella catering in Lamberhurst? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to Lamberhurst
Also in Lamberhurst
Paella compared with other options
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Lamberhurst
- Fast service from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- 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