Kent · England
Paella Catering in Lydden
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Lydden: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Paella catering for Lydden events
How our paella catering works in Lydden
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Lydden. Typical bookings include weddings, from canapés to evening food and office lunches and staff parties, with chicken and chorizo paella, mixed paella and vegetable paella.
In a hamlet or village like Lydden, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Questions from Lydden
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary Church of St Mary Virgin: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is Lydden too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Catering an event in Lydden
Lydden is about 3 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Lydden and nearby villages. Lydden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Lydden to Canterbury (11 miles away).
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary Church of St Mary Virgin, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Kearsney station, about 1.6 miles south-east. Lydden is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. The coast is within about 5 miles of Lydden, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Here we cover the CT15 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on St Marys Rise, Canterbury Road and The Close or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Lydden, we cover Coldred (1 mile north), Ewell Minnis (1 mile south-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile south-east), Halfway Street (1 mile north-west) and Wolverton (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (11 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles south-east), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (14 miles north-east), Deal (8 miles north-east) and Herne Bay (15 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Dover Transport Museum (2.3 miles south-east) and Dover Castle (4.3 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights.
- Nearby, you will find Hope Inn (under half a mile west)
Why choose live paella in Lydden?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why choose Love Paella in Lydden
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
About the dishes
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Lydden? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Places near Lydden
Also in Lydden
Step by step
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Evenings in Lydden 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The venue or postcode
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Perfect for your event in Lydden
Outdoor events and live paella go together: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Lydden and Kent:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Milestone birthday parties
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Lydden Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Questions to ask before booking
- How late numbers can change
- Staff numbers and hours
- The venue requirements
- What the price includes, item by item
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
- 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