Kent · England
Live paella catering in Marlpit Hill, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Marlpit Hill. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Office lunches and staff parties
Planning an event in Marlpit Hill?
Paella catering in Marlpit Hill, cooked live
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it’s served straight from the pan. We cook vegetable paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana, and we’re regularly asked to cater milestone birthday parties and naming days and family parties.
In a small place like Marlpit Hill, events are normally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Marlpit Hill: venues, travel and local tips
Marlpit Hill is about 7 miles north-east of East Grinstead, in Kent. For an event in Marlpit Hill, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Marlpit Hill. We cater in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Marlpit Hill to London (about 21 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Historic houses near Marlpit Hill include Chartwell (2.5 miles north) and Hever Castle (2.8 miles south-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Marlpit Hill. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in TN8, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on Pit Lane, Main Road and Meadow Lane or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Mowshurst (1 mile east), Edenbridge (1 mile south), Troy Town (1 mile west), Pootings (1 mile north-east) and Four Elms (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Sevenoaks (7 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles south-east), Tonbridge (9 miles east), Swanley (14 miles north), Kings Hill (15 miles east) and Paddock Wood (14 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Haxted Watermill Museum (1.9 miles south-west) and Hever Castle (2.8 miles south-east).
- Nearby, you’ll find The Swan pub (less than half a mile north-west)
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Marlpit Hill questions
What’s the nearest station to Marlpit Hill for guests?
Edenbridge station, in Marlpit Hill itself.
Is Marlpit Hill close to London?
Roughly 21 miles from the centre of London.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Is paella a full meal?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
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.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Who books paella catering in Marlpit Hill?
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Marlpit Hill and Kent:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Big birthdays
- Engagement and anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, Marlpit Hill has its own station, Edenbridge station.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- Whether VAT is included
- A clear list of what’s included
- How late numbers can change
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It is the pan people photograph.
What paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
Planning paella catering in Marlpit Hill? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
How the day works
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it is served at its best. Evenings in Marlpit Hill stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Give us a contact for the day
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Why choose live paella in Marlpit Hill?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Events in Marlpit Hill and across Kent
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Places near Marlpit Hill
Also in Marlpit Hill
- 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