Kent · England
Paella Catering for Sandwich events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Sandwich: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering near Sandwich
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Planning an evening event in Sandwich? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Related guides
Paella catering for your event in Sandwich
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the aroma does the rest. For engagement and anniversary parties and retirement and leaving parties, we can cook black rice, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella and more.
Around Sandwich, events are frequently in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Also near Sandwich
Also in Sandwich
Common questions in Sandwich
Can you cook near the sea around Sandwich?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Sandwich United Reformed Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Sandwich
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
Who books paella catering in Sandwich?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Company summer parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Milestone birthday parties
- Naming days and family parties
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Sandwich United Reformed Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- VAT, if it applies
- How bad weather is handled
- Whether travel is included
Paella catering around Sandwich
Sandwich is about 5 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. Across the CT13 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cover 922 places across Kent. We cook right across the region, from Sandwich to Canterbury (about 11 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Sandwich has its own station, Sandwich station. Parks such as Ham Fen usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Sandwich is within about 5 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Here we cover the CT13 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Cattle Market, Market Street and High Street or the roads around them. If your venue is just outside Sandwich, we also cover Great Stonar (1 mile north), Felderland (1 mile south), Worth (1 mile south), Woodnesborough (1 mile south-west) and Statenborough (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (11 miles west), Margate (8 miles north), Dover (10 miles south), Folkestone (15 miles south-west), Ramsgate (5 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (7 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find The Precinct Toy Collection (under half a mile north) and Ramsgate General Hospital (5 miles north-east). Not far away are Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Nearby schools include Sir Roger Manwood's School (within half a mile east)
- Local pubs include The Red Cow Public House (under half a mile north)
For event organisers in Sandwich
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Mention any other courses or food
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Request clear labels at the serving table
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
- The number of people
- Travel, parking and access
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- What the venue already provides
- Where the event is
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The courses you’d like
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
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 handles separate pans for each diet.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s usually the most photographed pan.
- 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