Kent · England
Live paella catering in Shalmsford Street, Kent
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Shalmsford Street: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Live paella catering in Shalmsford Street
Paella catering in Shalmsford Street, cooked live
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. Whether it’s retirement celebrations and wedding breakfasts and evening food, we can cook paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and mixed paella for your guests.
In a smaller place like Shalmsford Street, a garden party is frequently the simplest option: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Who books paella catering in Shalmsford Street?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Shalmsford Street book us for occasions like:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Before you book anyone
- What the price includes, item by item
- Payment terms and deposit
- Staff numbers and hours
- How late numbers can change
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The length of service
- Whether you need crockery
- The paellas you choose
Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The address or venue name
- Your date and when you want to eat
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Towns and villages near Shalmsford Street
Also in Shalmsford Street
The process
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Evenings in Shalmsford Street stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us 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.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning help
Shalmsford Street 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’ll follow the site rules.
Can you cook in Broadham Down?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Which paella is most popular?
That depends on who’s coming. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we generally call guests over.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Catering an event in Shalmsford Street
Shalmsford Street is about 3 miles south-west of Canterbury, in Kent. For paella catering in Shalmsford Street, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. Shalmsford Street is one of 922 places in Kent we cover.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chartham Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chartham station, about 0.5 miles north. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Shalmsford Street, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of CT4. Local streets include Old Church Road, Pomfret Road and Summer Piece Grove; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Chartham (1 mile north), Mystole (1 mile west), Garlinge Green (1 mile south), Chartham Hatch (1 mile north) and Thanington (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (10 miles south-west), Canterbury (3 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles north-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-east) and Whitstable (7 miles north).
A little further out are Chilham Castle (2.6 miles west) and Whitefriars Shopping Centre (3.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Pubs nearby include The Artichoke Inn (within half a mile north-east)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What you get with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Catering across Kent, including Shalmsford Street
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
The menu, dish by dish
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.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
- 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