Kent · England
Live paella catering in Sandway, Kent
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Sandway and Kent, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Live paella catering in Sandway
Paella catering in Sandway, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, paella Valenciana and black rice, and typical bookings are for staff parties and work lunches and garden get-togethers.
Somewhere like Sandway, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Common questions in Sandway
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Sandway for guests?
Lenham station, about 0.5 miles north-east of the centre.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you come to Sandway?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Sandway and across Kent. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Organising for someone else?
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It is the pan people photograph.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Count adults and children separately
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Live paella in Sandway: local details
Sandway is about 8 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Sandway or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Sandway is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Sandway to Canterbury (17 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Kiln Wood? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Platts Heath Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Sandway is within about 4 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the ME17 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Headcorn Road, Sandway Road and Old Ham Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Platt's Heath (1 mile south-west), Liverton Street (1 mile south-west), Boughton Malherbe (1 mile south), Marley (1 mile north-west) and Harrietsham (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (8 miles west), Ashford (9 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (8 miles north), Faversham (10 miles north-east), Minster (14 miles north) and Kings Hill (13 miles west).
A little further out are The Dog Collar Museum (3.2 miles north-west) and Coldbridge Castle (2.1 miles south).
- Local schools include The Lenham School (0.8 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include Wishful Thinker pub (less than half a mile south-east)
Also near Sandway
Also in Sandway
What happens on the day
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Around midsummer it stays light in Sandway until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Read more
What affects the price in Sandway
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and rough timings
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
- 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