Kent · England
Live paella catering in Rolvenden, Kent
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Rolvenden and Kent, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Birthday celebrations
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Live paella catering in Rolvenden
How our paella catering works in Rolvenden
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there is very little waste, and the food is served hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and vegan paella, and we’re frequently booked for christenings and family gatherings and summer garden parties.
In a rural place like Rolvenden, the setting does plenty of the work: 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.
Rolvenden questions
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
How far is Rolvenden from London?
Roughly 44 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Can we choose the seafood?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Occasions we cook for in Rolvenden
There’s no kitchen needed, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Retirement celebrations
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Parish Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the price includes, item by item
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Paella compared with other options
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. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Rolvenden: venues, travel and local tips
Rolvenden is about 12 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Rolvenden will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in 922 places in Kent. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 25 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Smallhythe Place (3.1 miles east) and Great Dixter (4.2 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Rolvenden Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Rolvenden is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in TN17, we plan around your venue. From High Street, Sparkeswood Avenue and Glebe Field or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Rolvenden, we also cover West Cross (1 mile west), Rolvenden Layne (1 mile south-east), Strood (1 mile north-east), Parkgate (2 miles north) and East End (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (15 miles north), Ashford (12 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (14 miles north-west), Tenterden (3 miles north-east), Bearsted (15 miles north) and Park Wood (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include The C.M Booth Collection (under half a mile west) and Benenden Hospital (2.4 miles north).
- Local pubs include The Star Public House (under half a mile south-west)
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ensure each pan is labelled
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
How it works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. In Rolvenden, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Places near Rolvenden
Other catering in Rolvenden
- 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