Kent · England
Paella Catering for Shottenden events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Shottenden.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
Book paella catering in Shottenden
How our paella catering works in Shottenden
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. For staff parties and work lunches and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegan paella.
For a rural spot like Shottenden, the countryside is part of the appeal: 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 as soon as it is ready.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Mention any other courses or food
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we generally call guests over.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Towns and villages near Shottenden
Also in Shottenden
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Planning an evening event in Shottenden? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Give us a contact for the day
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Live paella in Shottenden: local details
Shottenden is about 5 miles south of Faversham, in Kent. Anywhere in CT4, we can cook for your guests. Shottenden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 7 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Belmont House and Gardens (3.7 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Shottenden is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cook at events all over the CT4 postcode area. Whether your event is on Shottenden Road, Goldups Lane and Beaney's Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Perrywood (1 mile north), Selling (1 mile north), Hogben's Hill (2 miles north), Molash (2 miles south-west) and Mountain Street (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (8 miles south), Canterbury (7 miles east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-west), Whitstable (8 miles north-east), Faversham (5 miles north) and Herne Bay (12 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Tower keep castle at Chilham (1.6 miles east).
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s the pan people photograph.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together.
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For planners, venues and organisers
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Shottenden? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Why choose paella catering in Shottenden?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Garden get-togethers
- Milestone birthday parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
For guests coming by train, Selling station is about 2 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether VAT is included
- When payment is due
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Any travel, parking or access charges
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Shottenden questions
What’s the nearest station to Shottenden for guests?
The closest is Selling station, roughly 2 miles away.
How far is Shottenden from London?
Roughly 47 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Is paella a full meal?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes, that’s what it’s made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
What affects the price in Shottenden
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Travel, parking and access
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The date and time of the event
- The address or venue name
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote.
- 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