Kent · England
Paella Catering in Pett Bottom
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Pett Bottom.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Company summer parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Paella catering in Pett Bottom
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Mention any other courses or food
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Paella catering in Pett Bottom, cooked live
There’s something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. For leaving dos and retirements and company summer parties, we can cook mixed paella, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella and more.
In a small place like Pett Bottom, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Planning live paella in Pett Bottom
Pett Bottom is about 4 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Pett Bottom. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
For guests coming by train, Bekesbourne station is about 3 miles away. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Pett Bottom. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cover events in every part of CT4 and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Pett Bottom Road and School Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Other places close to Pett Bottom for paella catering include Lower Hardres (1 mile north-west), Upper Hardres (1 mile south-west), Street End (1 mile north-west), Lynsore Bottom (1 mile south) and Nackington (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (12 miles south-west), Canterbury (4 miles north), Dover (11 miles south-east), Folkestone (10 miles south), Whitstable (9 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Canterbury Castle (3.4 miles north) and Rupert Bear Museum (3.5 miles north).
- Local pubs include The Duck pub (less than half a mile south-east)
Working with your venue
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Why choose paella catering in Pett Bottom?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Summer garden parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Company summer parties
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens if it rains
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- When final numbers are due
About the dishes
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Places near Pett Bottom
Other catering in Pett Bottom
Questions from Pett Bottom
Is Pett Bottom too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Pett Bottom for guests?
Bekesbourne station, about 3 miles north-east of the centre.
Are premium seafood options available?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
What affects the price in Pett Bottom
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- The paellas you choose
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
- How many courses
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
How the day works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Evenings in Pett Bottom 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.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Read more
- 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