Kent · England
Live paella catering in Sandling, 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 makes the food a highlight of your event in Sandling.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Community events and fairs
- Milestone birthday parties
Book paella catering in Sandling
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
How our paella catering works in Sandling
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Sandling. Whether it’s naming days and family parties and milestone birthday parties, we’ll put together a menu of black rice, mixed paella and vegan paella and more.
For a rural spot like Sandling, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Sandling: venues, travel and local tips
Sandling is about 1 mile north-west of Foley Park, in Kent. For an event in Sandling, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Sandling. We cover 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 24 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Paul's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Parks such as Tyland Barn normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Sandling, 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.
This part of Kent takes in ME14, ME16 and ME20, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Lock Lane, Grange Lane and Tyland Lane or a nearby road, we can cook there. Sandling is on the M20, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. If your venue is just outside Sandling, we also cover Abbey Gate (1 mile north), Ringlestone (1 mile south), Harbourland (1 mile east), Penenden Heath (1 mile south-east) and Foley Park (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Sittingbourne (10 miles east), Sevenoaks (14 miles west), Gravesend (11 miles north-west), Tonbridge (12 miles south-west), Northfleet (12 miles north-west) and Minster (15 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include KIMS hospital (2 miles south-east) and Allington Castle (less than half a mile south-west). Green spaces nearby include Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Local schools include The Maplesden Noakes School (1.3 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Yew Tree pub (less than half a mile east)
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Somewhere close to park and unload
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Places near Sandling
Also in Sandling
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Sandling until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- 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.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
How to get a price
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Common questions in Sandling
Can you cook in Tyland Barn?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is Sandling close to London?
Roughly 30 miles from the centre of London.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
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.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including Kent. Find your area.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Let us know about other food at the event
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Live paella or other catering?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. 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 book with us
- Drinks service on request
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- We cover Sandling and the whole of Kent
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
For event organisers in Sandling
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
What affects the price in Sandling
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many guests are eating
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Anything your venue supplies
Planning paella catering in Sandling? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
- 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