Kent · England
Paella Catering in Sevenoaks
Planning paella catering in Sevenoaks? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering in Sevenoaks
How our paella catering works in Sevenoaks
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. Popular choices include vegan paella, mixed paella and seafood paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater birthday celebrations and weddings, from canapés to evening food.
A town like Sevenoaks gives you plenty of options: a garden, a club, a hall or a hired venue. We will check the cooking spot with you before the day. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
Occasions we cook for in Sevenoaks
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Sevenoaks and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Summer garden parties
- Community events and fairs
Nearby historic houses include Knole House (1.3 miles south-east) and Ightham Mote (3.9 miles south-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- How long the team stays
Is live paella right for your event?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Catering across Kent, including Sevenoaks
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria and bar staff available
See How we price Or The cost guide.
How the day works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. In Sevenoaks, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Related guides
Planning live paella in Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is about 19 miles south-east of London, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the TN13 area, we can bring the pans to you. Sevenoaks is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Sevenoaks to London (about 19 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Sevenoaks station is in Sevenoaks itself. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St John the Baptist, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Sevenoaks, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Here we cover the TN13, TN14, TN15 and TN8 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include London Road, High Street and Church Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Being close to the A21 and A25, Sevenoaks is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. For events just outside Sevenoaks, we cover Riverhead (1 mile west), Kippington (1 mile south), Dunton Green (1 mile north-west), Bessels Green (1 mile west) and Chipstead (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (15 miles east), Dartford (11 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles south), Gravesend (13 miles north-east), Tonbridge (7 miles south-east) and Northfleet (13 miles north-east). Sevenoaks is one of the larger places we cover in Kent, with plenty of venues for events.
A little further out are Sevenoaks Hospital (0.6 miles north-east) and Kemsing Castle Bank (2.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near Sevenoaks include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Knole Academy (within half a mile north) and New Beacon School (1.4 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Rifleman pub (within half a mile north-east)
Sevenoaks: your questions answered
Can you cook in Montreal Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Which station should guests use for Sevenoaks?
Sevenoaks station, in Sevenoaks itself.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Is paella a full meal?
It is a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Let us know about other food at the event
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Where we can cook in Sevenoaks
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Planners, venues and businesses
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Parking and unloading
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The courses you’d like
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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.
Places near Sevenoaks
More for events in Sevenoaks
- 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