Kent · England
Paella Catering for Sheldwich Lees events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Sheldwich Lees.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversary celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
Live paella catering in Sheldwich Lees
Why choose paella catering in Sheldwich Lees?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Selling station, about 2.4 miles east.
What your quote should include
- How long the team stays
- Travel and parking costs
- When payment is due
- Whether VAT is included
Paella catering for your event in Sheldwich Lees
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll recommend what fits your event. We are often asked to cater wedding breakfasts and evening food and big birthdays, with chicken and chorizo paella, paella Valenciana and black rice.
In a rural place like Sheldwich Lees, the setting does plenty of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
Catering an event in Sheldwich Lees
Sheldwich Lees is about 3 miles south of Faversham, in Kent. For paella catering in Sheldwich Lees, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Sheldwich Lees is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 8 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Belmont House and Gardens (1.7 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Sheldwich Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Sheldwich Lees, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in ME13, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Sheldwich (1 mile north-west), Badlesmere (1 mile south), North Street (1 mile north), Throwley (1 mile west) and Throwley Forstal (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (9 miles south), Canterbury (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (8 miles north-west), Whitstable (8 miles north-east), Faversham (3 miles north) and Herne Bay (13 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Tower keep castle at Chilham (3.7 miles south-east).
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Common questions in Sheldwich Lees
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St James: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
How far is Sheldwich Lees from London?
About 45 miles from central London.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
Can paella be the only main course?
It is a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
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.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- How many staff you need
- Your choice of paellas
- Timings and hours
- The number of people
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The venue or postcode
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Sheldwich Lees? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Sheldwich Lees until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Related guides
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Paella compared with other options
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. Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why Sheldwich Lees hosts choose us
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Catering across Kent, including Sheldwich Lees
Nearby places to Sheldwich Lees
More for events in Sheldwich Lees
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- 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