Kent · England
Live paella catering in Martin Mill, Kent
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Martin Mill.
- Big birthdays
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering near Martin Mill
Paella catering for your event in Martin Mill
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. We cook mixed paella, black rice and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for christenings and family gatherings and anniversary celebrations.
In a small place like Martin Mill, events are normally 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 plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Perfect for your event in Martin Mill
There is no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Summer garden parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
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.
Questions to ask before booking
- Allergen information for each dish
- If the price includes VAT
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the price includes, item by item
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Tell us how many children are coming
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Your date and when you want to eat
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Live paella in Martin Mill: local details
Martin Mill is about 3 miles north-east of Dover, in Kent. Anywhere in CT15, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 14 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Martin Mill station is in Martin Mill itself. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Langdon Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The coast is within about 4 miles of Martin Mill, 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. From Station Road, Barley Close and Lucerne Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Martin (1 mile north-west), East Langdon (1 mile west), West Cliffe (1 mile south), West Langdon (1 mile north-west) and Ringwould (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (14 miles north-west), Margate (15 miles north), Dover (3 miles south-west), Folkestone (10 miles south-west), Ramsgate (12 miles north) and Broadstairs (14 miles north).
A little further out are Royal Victoria Hospital (3.4 miles south-west) and Dover Castle (3.1 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights.
- Local schools include Duke of York's Royal Military School (2.1 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Lantern Inn (within half a mile north-west)
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why choose Love Paella in Martin Mill
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A clear, itemised quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Martin Mill questions
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Augustine?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook near the sea around Martin Mill?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Is paella a full meal?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
The process
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Evenings in Martin Mill stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Plan cover in case of rain
Get a quote
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
Nearby places to Martin Mill
What else we do in Martin Mill
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in Martin Mill? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
- 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