Kent · England
Live paella catering in Puddledock, Kent
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Puddledock: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Milestone birthday parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Book paella catering in Puddledock
About our paella catering in Puddledock
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We will recommend what fits your event. We’re often asked to cater office lunches and staff parties and garden parties and summer barbecues, serving seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella.
In a small place like Puddledock, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. 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. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
How the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Puddledock stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Your choice of paellas
- Travel, parking and access
- Timings and hours
- How many courses
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- A photo of the space, if you can
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Nearby places to Puddledock
More for events in Puddledock
Paella catering around Puddledock
Puddledock is about 1 mile north of Swanley, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the DA2 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Puddledock to London (about 13 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Peter, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Swanley station, about 1.8 miles south. Puddledock is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in DA2 and BR8 is planned around your venue and your guests. For events just outside Puddledock, we cover Hextable (1 mile south-east), Stonehill Green (1 mile south-west), Joyden's Wood (1 mile north), Wilmington (1 mile north-east) and Swanley Village (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Dartford (3 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (9 miles south), Gravesend (9 miles east), Northfleet (7 miles east), Kings Hill (14 miles south-east) and Swanscombe (5 miles north-east).
A little further out are West Hill Hospital (2.5 miles north-east) and Eynsford Castle (3.6 miles south-east). Open spaces near Puddledock include Wansunt Pit and Summer Hill.
- Nearby schools include Hextable School (0.7 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Ship pub (less than half a mile south-east)
Perfect for your event in Puddledock
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Hextable Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Comparing caterers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether travel is included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What happens if it rains
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us what else is being served
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Working with your venue
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Puddledock? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Should I cook it myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Is live paella right for your event?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Questions from Puddledock
Which station should guests use for Puddledock?
Swanley station, about 1.8 miles south of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Puddledock?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is paella a full meal?
It is a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Where do you cater?
We cover London and the South East, including Kent. Find your area.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
What is live paella catering?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
- 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