Kent · England
Paella Catering in Lenham
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Lenham: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests.
- Company summer parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Live paella catering in Lenham
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Paella catering in Lenham, cooked live
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. For naming days and family parties and weddings and evening receptions, we can cook paella Valenciana, black rice and vegan paella.
A place like Lenham often has a hall, a club or a pub garden nearby; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
How we price paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Guest numbers
- How long we are needed on site
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Expected numbers
- The venue or postcode
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Real theatre, not just catering
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Your questions about paella catering in Lenham
What’s the nearest station to Lenham for guests?
Lenham station, in Lenham itself.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Paella catering around Lenham
Lenham is about 7 miles south of Sittingbourne, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Lenham or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Lenham is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 16 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Mary's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Nearby historic houses include Leeds Castle (3.6 miles west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Lenham, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in ME17, we can bring paella catering to you. Local streets include High Street, Mitchell Close and Hatch Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Leadingcross Green (1 mile south), Woodside Green (1 mile north-east), West Street (1 mile north-east), Lenham Forstal (2 miles south-east) and Lenham Heath (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (8 miles west), Ashford (9 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (7 miles north), Faversham (9 miles north-east), Minster (13 miles north) and Kings Hill (13 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Coldbridge Castle (2.7 miles south) and The Dog Collar Museum (3.6 miles west).
- Local schools include The Lenham School (under half a mile north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion pub (less than half a mile east)
What happens on the day
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. Evenings in Lenham stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
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.
Related guides
Nearby places to Lenham
Also in Lenham
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- 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