Kent · England
Paella Catering for Mersham events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Mersham.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near Mersham
Paella catering for your event in Mersham
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll recommend what fits your event. For garden parties and summer barbecues and anniversaries and engagement parties, we will put together a menu of mixed paella, vegetable paella and black rice.
Somewhere as small as Mersham, a garden or field is frequently the venue. 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. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
What affects the price in Mersham
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The length of service
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Diets and allergies you know about
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Why choose paella catering in Mersham?
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
In Mersham and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Naming days and family parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Nearby historic houses include Westenhanger Castle (4.7 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Before booking anyone
- Payment terms and deposit
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Space, access and power needs
- Allergen information for each dish
Live paella or other catering?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and normally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why choose Love Paella in Mersham
- Events in Mersham and across Kent
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Drinks service on request
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Step by step
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Evenings in Mersham 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.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
Questions from Mersham
Is Mersham too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St John the Baptist?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Is paella a full meal?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Tell us how many children are coming
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Live paella in Mersham: local details
Mersham is about 3 miles south-east of Ashford, in Kent. Anywhere in TN25, we will come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Ashford International station, about 2.9 miles north-west. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St John the Baptist, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Mersham. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of TN25 and the streets around it. From Church Road, The Street and Church Close or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Mersham, we cover Sevington (1 mile north-west), South Stour (1 mile south-west), Ridgeway (1 mile east), Hinxhill Park (2 miles north) and Smeeth (2 miles east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (3 miles north-west), Canterbury (13 miles north-east), Folkestone (11 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north), Hythe (7 miles south-east) and Davington (14 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Ashford Designer Outlet (2.6 miles north-west) and William Harvey Hospital (1.7 miles north-west). Not far away are Hatch Park.
- Nearby, you will find The Farriers Arms (under half a mile south-west)
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Towns and villages near Mersham
More for events in Mersham
- 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