Kent · England
Live paella catering in Shirkoak, Kent
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Shirkoak.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Paella catering near Shirkoak
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Shirkoak
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Paella catering in Shirkoak, made fresh on the day
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Each is cooked separately. Popular choices include chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and mixed paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater fairs, fêtes and festivals and family celebrations and christenings.
For a rural spot like Shirkoak, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Organising a club, school or community event in Shirkoak? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Paella catering around Shirkoak
Shirkoak is about 5 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. For paella catering in Shirkoak, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Shirkoak is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Shirkoak to Canterbury (19 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Woodchurch Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Nearby historic houses include Smallhythe Place (4.8 miles south-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
We cover events in every part of the TN26 postcode area. Streets in the area include Bethersden Road, Shirkoak Park and Redbrook Street, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Shirkoak for paella catering include Woodchurch (1 mile south), Brattle (1 mile south), Brook Street (2 miles south), Leigh Green (3 miles south-west) and Appledore Heath (4 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (5 miles north-east), Hythe (14 miles east), Tenterden (4 miles south-west), Bearsted (15 miles north-west), Park Wood (14 miles north-west) and Kennington (7 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Romden Castle (4.6 miles north-west) and Woodchurch Village Life Museum (0.7 miles south). Not far away are Orlestone Forest.
- Pubs nearby include The Bonny Cravat Inn (0.7 miles south)
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Timings and hours
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
Send us the date, your venue or TN26 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
How it works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. In Shirkoak, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Request clear labels at the serving table
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Live paella or other catering?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. 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.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Places near Shirkoak
Also in Shirkoak
Shirkoak: your questions answered
Is Shirkoak close to London?
Roughly 47 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Is Shirkoak too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you cover Shirkoak?
We do. We cook at events in Shirkoak and across Kent. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
How much does paella catering cost in Shirkoak?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Shirkoak.
What happens with live paella?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Why choose paella catering in Shirkoak?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Garden get-togethers
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Ham Street station, about 4 miles south-east.
What your quote should include
- Allergen information for each dish
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deposit and payment dates
- 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