Kent · England
Live paella catering in Offham, Kent
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 makes the food a highlight of your event in Offham.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Milestone birthday parties
- Naming days and family parties
Paella catering for Offham events
Paella catering for your event in Offham
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll suggest what suits your event. We cook mixed paella, paella Valenciana and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re often booked for naming days and family parties and big birthdays.
Somewhere as small as Offham, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space will not work. What matters most:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
Occasions we cook for in Offham
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Whatever you are celebrating in Offham, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Summer garden parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Weddings and evening receptions
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Offham Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Travel and parking costs
- Payment terms and deposit
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. In Offham, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Give us a contact for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Towns and villages near Offham
Other catering in Offham
For event organisers in Offham
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Live paella in Offham: local details
Offham is about 7 miles west of Maidstone, in Kent. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Offham and the surrounding area. Offham is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Offham to London (25 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Michael, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, West Malling station is about 1.9 miles away.
This part of Kent takes in ME19, so your event can be anywhere in it. We can cater an event on streets such as Church Road, Pepingstraw Close and Teston Road or the roads around them. Other places close to Offham for paella catering include Wrotham Heath (1 mile west), Comp (2 miles west), Kent Street (2 miles south), New Pound (2 miles south) and Herne Pound (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (7 miles east), Dartford (12 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (8 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south-west), Gravesend (10 miles north) and Tonbridge (8 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Leybourne Castle (2.2 miles north-east) and Maidstone Hospital (4.8 miles east).
- Local pubs include King's Arms Public House (within half a mile south-west)
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. And keep children and pets well away from 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.
Offham: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Manor Park Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Michael: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
What seafood can we have?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Count adults and children separately
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
What affects the price in Offham
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Whether you need crockery
- How many guests are eating
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of the space, if you can
Planning paella catering in Offham? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
- 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