Kent · England
Paella Catering in Northbourne
Planning paella catering in Northbourne? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Community events and fairs
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering in Northbourne
Planning the cooking area
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
Paella catering for your event in Northbourne
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will recommend what fits your event. We are often asked to cater anniversary celebrations and milestone birthday parties, with mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
Somewhere like Northbourne, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
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 only pay for what you want.
What you get with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- We cover Northbourne and the whole of Kent
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
FAQs for Northbourne
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Augustine: 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 normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Northbourne for guests?
Walmer station, about 2.2 miles south-east of the centre.
Is paella enough as a main?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll help you decide the split.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is normally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
Does paella work for big events?
It’s ideal. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Request clear labels at the serving table
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Live paella in Northbourne: local details
Northbourne is about 2 miles west of Deal, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Northbourne or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Northbourne is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Walmer station is about 2.2 miles away. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Northbourne Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The coast is within about 3 miles of Northbourne, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
For paella catering in CT14, we plan around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include Deal Road, Coulson Grove and Mill Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Northbourne for paella catering include Marley (1 mile north), Great Mongeham (1 mile south-east), Finglesham (1 mile north), Sholden Meadows (1 mile east) and Sholden (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (12 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (6 miles south), Folkestone (12 miles south-west), Ramsgate (9 miles north) and Broadstairs (11 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Deal Castle (2.8 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (2.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Schools near Northbourne include Castle Community College (2.3 miles east)
- Nearby, you will find Hare & Hounds pub (less than half a mile east)
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Who books paella catering in Northbourne?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Naming days and family parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Parks such as Betteshanger Park normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
What to look for in a quote
- Payment terms and deposit
- When final numbers are due
- A clear list of what’s included
- Allergen information for each dish
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together.
Towns and villages near Northbourne
What else we do in Northbourne
How we price paella catering
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How long we are needed on site
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
- Guest numbers
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of where we’d cook
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
How it works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Evenings in Northbourne 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.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
- 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