Kent · England
Live paella catering in Martin, Kent
Looking for paella catering in Martin? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement celebrations
Paella catering for Martin events
Live paella or other catering?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Fast service from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Paella catering for your event in Martin
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. For retirement and leaving parties and birthday celebrations, we will put together a menu of vegetable paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a small place like Martin, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
Where we can cook in Martin
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
What paella catering costs
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- The length of service
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The courses you’d like
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Towns and villages near Martin
Also in Martin
Catering an event in Martin
Martin is about 3 miles north-east of Dover, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Martin, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Martin is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Augustine, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Martin has its own station, Martin Mill station. The coast is within about 4 miles of Martin, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Anywhere in CT15, we can bring paella catering to you. Your event could be at a home on The Street, Waterworks Lane and Ringwould Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Martin Mill (1 mile south-east), East Langdon (1 mile south-west), West Langdon (1 mile west), Ringwould (1 mile north-east) and Sutton (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north), Dover (3 miles south-west), Folkestone (10 miles south-west), Ramsgate (12 miles north) and Broadstairs (13 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Royal Victoria Hospital (3.6 miles south-west) and St Margaret's Museum (2.5 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights.
- Local schools include Duke of York's Royal Military School (2.3 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Lantern Inn (less than half a mile south-west)
FAQs for Martin
Do you come out to small places like Martin?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Is paella a full meal?
It is a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Which paellas do you recommend?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is normally the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s the pan people photograph.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Tell us how many children are coming
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
The process
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Around midsummer it stays light in Martin 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 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear 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.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Why choose paella catering in Martin?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Martin and Kent:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Nearby historic houses include Walmer Castle (3 miles north-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- How bad weather is handled
Planners, venues and businesses
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
- 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