Kent · England
Live paella catering in Petham, Kent
Looking for paella catering in Petham? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Milestone birthday parties
Book paella catering in Petham
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella catering in Petham, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are vegan paella, seafood paella and mixed paella, and we are often booked for summer garden parties and retirement celebrations.
For a rural spot like Petham, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
How it works
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Evenings in Petham stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get 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 put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Tell us what else is being served
- Confirm allergies by email
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Why choose live paella in Petham?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why Petham hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- We cover Petham and the whole of Kent
- A clear, itemised quote
Petham: your questions answered
How far is Petham from London?
About 53 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Can you feed a lot of people?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Travel, parking and access
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
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
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Towns and villages near Petham
What else we do in Petham
Petham: venues, travel and local tips
Petham is about 4 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Petham. We cover 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chartham station, about 2.6 miles north-west. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Petham Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Petham, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in CT4 is planned around your venue. Local streets include The Street, Vicarage Hill and Town Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Petham for paella catering include Garlinge Green (1 mile north-west), Lower Hardres (2 miles north-east), Upper Hardres (2 miles east), Anvil Green (2 miles south-west) and Pett Bottom (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (10 miles south-west), Canterbury (4 miles north), Dover (12 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south-east), Whitstable (9 miles north) and Deal (15 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Canterbury Castle (3.8 miles north) and Kent and Canterbury Hospital (3.4 miles north-east). Open spaces near Petham include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- 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