Kent · England
Live paella catering in Northwood, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Northwood. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Big birthdays
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Live paella catering in Northwood
How our paella catering works in Northwood
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Northwood. On the menu are mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for anniversaries and engagement parties and retirement celebrations.
There may be a hall or club near Northwood if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Northwood questions
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Mark's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How does live paella catering work?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
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.
How much does paella catering cost in Northwood?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Northwood
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Northwood: venues, travel and local tips
Northwood is about 1 mile north-west of Ramsgate, in Kent. For paella catering in Northwood, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Northwood. Northwood is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Northwood to Canterbury (about 15 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Mark's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Dame Janet Primary Academy, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Northwood is within about 2 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cover events in every part of the CT12, CT10 and CT11 postcode area and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Gwyn Road, Coxes Lane and Roman Road. You’ll find Northwood on the A254 and A256, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. We also cook at events in Ramsgate (1 mile south-east), Upton (1 mile east), St Lawrence (1 mile south), St Peter's (1 mile north-east) and Broadstairs (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (15 miles west), Dover (15 miles south), Deal (9 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west), Walmer (10 miles south) and Wincheap (15 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Westwood Cross (0.5 miles north-west) and Ramsgate Museum (1.4 miles south-east). Not far away are Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
- Schools near Northwood include The Royal Harbour Academy (0.5 miles south-east) and The Charles Dickens School (1 mile north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Derby Arms (0.8 miles south-east)
Who books paella catering in Northwood?
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
In Northwood and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Garden get-togethers
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Historic houses near Northwood include Quex Park (3.6 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- Staff numbers and hours
- When payment is due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How bad weather is handled
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
What affects the price in Northwood
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Waiting and bar staff
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Travel, parking and access
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The date and rough timings
- Which courses you have in mind
- Expected numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. Around midsummer it stays light in Northwood until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Read more
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Places near Northwood
Other catering in Northwood
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
- 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