Kent · England
Live paella catering in Rusthall, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Rusthall.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
Planning an event in Rusthall?
Paella catering in Rusthall, cooked live
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will recommend what fits your event. Typical bookings include fairs, fêtes and festivals and anniversaries and engagement parties, with vegetable paella, mixed paella and black rice.
In a smaller place like Rusthall, a garden party is frequently the simplest option: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Occasions we cook for in Rusthall
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Rusthall and Kent:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Community events and fairs
For guests coming by train, Tunbridge Wells station is about 1.5 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- How late numbers can change
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The wet-weather plan
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
What affects the price in Rusthall
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Parking and unloading
- Timings and hours
- How many staff you need
- How many guests are eating
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
Send us the date, your venue or TN4 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Is live paella right for your event?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. 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
- Catering across Kent, including Rusthall
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Paella catering around Rusthall
Rusthall is about 2 miles west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Rusthall and the surrounding area. We cover 922 places in Kent. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 26 miles away.
Historic houses near Rusthall include Groombridge Place (2.2 miles south-west) and Penshurst Place (3.3 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Rusthall St Paul's CofE VA Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Rusthall. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of Kent takes in TN4 and TN3. That could mean an event in a garden on Rusthall High Street, Hill View Road and Manor Road or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Langton Green (1 mile west), Bullingstone (1 mile north-west), Speldhurst (1 mile north-west), Stockland Green (1 mile north) and Broadwater Down (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Sevenoaks (10 miles north), Tonbridge (5 miles north-east), Kings Hill (12 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (7 miles east), Edenbridge (9 miles north-west) and Staplehurst (14 miles east).
A little further out are Tonbridge Castle (4.5 miles north-east) and Kent and Sussex Hospital (1.3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Barden Lake and Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Rose Hill School (0.7 miles east) and Bennett Memorial Diocesan School (0.9 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Oak pub (under half a mile south-west)
Rusthall: your questions answered
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is Rusthall close to London?
About 29 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
How does live paella catering work?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Send allergies to us in writing
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Step by step
Here’s how the day usually runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Planning an evening event in Rusthall? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, 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 do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Also near Rusthall
Also in Rusthall
- 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