Kent · England
Live paella catering in River, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in River. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Naming days and family parties
- Community events and fairs
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering in River
Paella catering for your event in River
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field. We cook paella Valenciana, vegan paella and black rice, and we are frequently booked for company summer parties and leaving dos and retirements.
In and around River, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Common questions in River
What’s the nearest station to River for guests?
Kearsney station, about 0.5 miles north-west of the centre.
Can you cook near the sea around River?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you cover River?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including River and the rest of Kent. To check your date, use our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Who books paella catering in River?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversary celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Peter, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Comparing caterers
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How each diet is kept separate
- Staff numbers and hours
- Whether VAT is included
Catering an event in River
River is about 1 mile north-west of Dover, in Kent. Events in River are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cook in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Old Park Hill? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Kearsney station, about 0.5 miles north-west. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of River, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. The coast is within about 3 miles of River, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of Kent takes in CT17 and CT16, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Lower Road, Minnis Lane and London Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Other places close to River for paella catering include Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile north-west), Dover (1 mile south-east), Whitfield (1 mile north-east) and Maxton (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north-east), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (10 miles south-west) and Walmer (7 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Crabble Corn Mill (within half a mile south-east) and Dover Castle (2.2 miles south-east). The countryside around River includes Dover Western Heights.
- Schools near River include Dover Christ Church Academy (1.2 miles south-east) and St Edmund's Catholic School (1.4 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include Royal Oak Cottage The Royal Oak Public House (under half a mile south)
How the day works
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in River until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- 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.
- 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
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in River? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in River? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why River hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Other catering in River
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- How many staff you need
- Distance and access to the venue
- How long we are needed on site
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- The date and time of the event
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
- 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