Kent · England
Live paella catering in Selsted, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Selsted and across Kent.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near Selsted
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in Selsted stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- 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.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
How our paella catering works in Selsted
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are black rice, vegetable paella and seafood paella, and we are regularly asked to cater milestone birthday parties and garden get-togethers.
Somewhere as small as Selsted, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Nearby places to Selsted
What else we do in Selsted
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Questions from Selsted
Do you come out to small places like Selsted?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Selsted from London?
Roughly 60 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll help you decide the split.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Events we cater in Selsted
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Milestone birthday parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Selsted Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What your quote should include
- How bad weather is handled
- The deposit and payment dates
- Allergen information for each dish
- Space, access and power needs
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Confirm allergies by email
- Count adults and children separately
A short rest after cooking helps, and that is when we invite guests up.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Paella catering around Selsted
Selsted is about 5 miles north of Folkestone, in Kent. From the centre of Selsted to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Selsted is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Selsted to Canterbury (about 9 miles away).
Historic houses near Selsted include Acrise Place (2.2 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For guests coming by train, Shepherds Well station is about 3.2 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Selsted, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Selsted is within about 6 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
This part of Kent takes in CT15, so your event can be anywhere in it. Other places close to Selsted for paella catering include Swingfield Minnis (1 mile south), Wootton (1 mile north), Denton (2 miles north), Lodge Lees (2 miles north) and Shelvin (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (9 miles north-west), Dover (6 miles east), Folkestone (5 miles south), Whitstable (15 miles north-west) and Deal (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Royal Victoria Hospital (5 miles south) and Folkestone Castle (4.2 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Cheriton Hill.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why us?
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Catering across Kent, including Selsted
- Fast service from the pan
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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