Kent · England
Paella Catering for Royal Tunbridge Wells events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Royal Tunbridge Wells: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Community events and fairs
Planning an event in Royal Tunbridge Wells?
Working with your venue
Many venues have rules for 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.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
How our paella catering works in Royal Tunbridge Wells
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields in and around Royal Tunbridge Wells. For weddings, from canapés to evening food and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we will put together a menu of vegan paella, seafood paella and mixed paella.
In Royal Tunbridge Wells, live paella typically means a garden, a hall with outdoor space or a hired venue. Each works well, as long as there’s a level spot to cook and somewhere close to park. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
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.
About the dishes
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Towns and villages near Royal Tunbridge Wells
Other catering in Royal Tunbridge Wells
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. In Royal Tunbridge Wells, 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 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- 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 sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Read more
Is live paella right for your event?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Live paella in Royal Tunbridge Wells: local details
Royal Tunbridge Wells is about 30 miles south-east of London, in Kent. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Royal Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area. Royal Tunbridge Wells is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from Royal Tunbridge Wells to Brighton (about 27 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Groombridge Place (3.6 miles west) and Penshurst Place (4.5 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. Parks such as Hilbert Woods typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Royal Tunbridge Wells, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in TN2, TN4 and TN1 is planned around your venue. Streets in the area include Market Square, Goods Station Road and Culverden Square, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Main roads around Royal Tunbridge Wells include the A26 and A263, which makes travel to your event easy. Nearby, we also cater events in Hawkenbury (1 mile south-east), High Brooms (1 mile north-east), Broadwater Down (1 mile south-west), Southborough (1 mile north) and Rusthall (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (14 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (11 miles north), Tonbridge (4 miles north), Kings Hill (11 miles north-east), Foley Park (15 miles north-east) and Paddock Wood (6 miles north-east). Being one of Kent’s larger places, Royal Tunbridge Wells has lots of places to hold an event.
Nearby you will also find Royal Victoria Place (within half a mile south-west) and Tonbridge Castle (4.2 miles north). Open spaces near Royal Tunbridge Wells include Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve and Barden Lake.
- Local schools include The Skinners' School (0.5 miles north-west) and Rose Hill School (1 mile west)
- Nearby, you’ll find Crystal Palace pub (less than half a mile south-east)
What affects the price in Royal Tunbridge Wells
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
- Parking and unloading
- The number of people
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- A photo of the space, if you can
- What the venue already provides
- Expected numbers
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Questions from Royal Tunbridge Wells
What’s the nearest station to Royal Tunbridge Wells for guests?
Tunbridge Wells station, about 0.5 miles south-west of the centre.
We’re having a ceremony at Parish Church of St Barnabas: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Is paella a full meal?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Perfect for your event in Royal Tunbridge Wells
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Royal Tunbridge Wells, people book us for occasions like:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- Space, access and power needs
- What happens if it rains
- The deposit and payment dates
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Royal Tunbridge Wells
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- 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