Kent · England
Paella Catering in Monk's Hill
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Monk's Hill.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
Live paella catering in Monk's Hill
About our paella catering in Monk's Hill
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Monk's Hill. We cook black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella, and we’re frequently booked for family celebrations and christenings and garden get-togethers.
Somewhere like Monk's Hill, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Perfect for your event in Monk's Hill
There’s no kitchen needed, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Company summer parties
For guests coming by train, Headcorn station is about 2.5 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- What the price includes, item by item
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Space, access and power needs
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you are free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. In Monk's Hill, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- 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.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Drinks service on request
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Nearby places to Monk's Hill
Also in Monk's Hill
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Planning live paella in Monk's Hill
Monk's Hill is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Events in Monk's Hill are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in 922 places in Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Smarden Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Michael, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Monk's Hill. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cover events in every part of TN27 and the streets around it. Whether your event is on The Cut and Smarden Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Standen (1 mile south-west), Smarden (1 mile north-east), Lashenden (1 mile west), Smarden Bell (1 mile north) and Curteis' Corner (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (14 miles north), Faversham (15 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (15 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Romden Castle (1.8 miles east) and Benenden Hospital (4.4 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include The Flying Horse pub (0.9 miles north-east)
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many guests are eating
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
FAQs for Monk's Hill
How far is Monk's Hill from London?
About 41 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Michael: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater in Monk's Hill?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Monk's Hill. For a quote, use our quote form.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
- 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