Kent · England
Live paella catering in Sandling, Kent
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Sandling.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Planning an event in Sandling?
Paella catering in Sandling, cooked live
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Sandling. We are often asked to cater anniversary celebrations and garden get-togethers, with black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella.
In a hamlet or village like Sandling, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Planning an evening event in Sandling? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get a price
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Sandling questions
Do you cater in the Kent Downs 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.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you cook inside?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you come to Sandling?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Sandling and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Paella compared with other options
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Sandling. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Sandling: venues, travel and local tips
Sandling is about 1 mile north-west of Hythe, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Sandling, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Sandling is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Sandling to Canterbury (13 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Sandling has its own station, Sandling station. Sandling is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Sandling is within about 2 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in CT21, we can cook for your guests. Other places close to Sandling for paella catering include Saltwood (1 mile south-east), Pedlinge (1 mile south-west), Hythe (1 mile south-east), Westenhanger (1 mile west) and Newingreen (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (9 miles north-west), Canterbury (13 miles north), Dover (11 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles east), Tower Hamlets (11 miles east) and Hawkinge (4 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Saltwood Castle (0.9 miles south-east) and Hythe Museum (1.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Sandling includes Tolsford Hill.
- Schools near Sandling include St Augustine's Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles south)
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Also near Sandling
What else we do in Sandling
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Events we cater in Sandling
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big birthdays
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Christenings and family gatherings
Nearby historic houses include Westenhanger Castle (1.6 miles west) and Acrise Place (4.5 miles north-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Questions to ask before booking
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Who provides the crockery
- The venue requirements
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
How we price paella catering
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The paellas you choose
- Travel, parking and access
- How many staff you need
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- What the venue already provides
- The date and time of the event
- The courses you’d like
- The address or venue name
Planning paella catering in Sandling? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use 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