Kent · England
Live paella catering in Marley, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Marley and across Kent.
- Summer garden parties
- Community events and fairs
- Big birthdays
Paella catering near Marley
Paella catering in Marley, cooked live
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. Typical bookings include office lunches and staff parties and festivals, fairs and school events, with paella Valenciana, mixed paella and vegan paella.
Somewhere like Marley, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Catering an event in Marley
Marley is about 7 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. Across the ME17 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Marley is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 17 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St John the Baptist's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Historic houses near Marley include Leeds Castle (2.5 miles west) and Stoneacre (4.7 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Marley 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.
Wherever your event is in ME17, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Parks Road, Young Lane and Church Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Harrietsham (1 mile west), Pollhill (1 mile west), Sandway (1 mile south-east), Platt's Heath (1 mile south) and Chegworth (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (7 miles west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (7 miles north), Faversham (10 miles north-east), Minster (13 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (12 miles west).
Nearby you’ll also find Leeds Castle (2.5 miles west) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.4 miles west).
- Local schools include The Lenham School (1.1 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Roebuck Public House (0.5 miles west)
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Marley
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
More for events in Marley
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Tell us what else is being served
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Confirm allergies by email
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
How the day works
Here’s how the day generally runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Evenings in Marley 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.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
What we need to know
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why Marley hosts choose us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t 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.
Marley: your questions answered
Can you cook in Kiln Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is Marley close to London?
Roughly 38 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
How much does paella catering cost in Marley?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
- 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