Kent · England
Paella Catering in South Alkham
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 for events in South Alkham.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Big birthdays
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering for South Alkham events
About our paella catering in South Alkham
There’s something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It turns a meal into an occasion. Popular choices include vegan paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for office lunches and staff parties and wedding breakfasts and evening food.
For a rural spot like South Alkham, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What happens on the day
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. Around midsummer it stays light in South Alkham until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear 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’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
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Common questions in South Alkham
What’s the nearest station to South Alkham for guests?
Kearsney station, about 2.8 miles north-east of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like South Alkham?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is often the first pan to empty.
Nearby places to South Alkham
More for events in South Alkham
Who books paella catering in South Alkham?
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Here are some of the events we cook for around South Alkham:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Anniversary celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Family celebrations and christenings
Historic houses near South Alkham include Acrise Place (3.5 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Travel and parking costs
- Space, access and power needs
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Count adults and children separately
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us what else is being served
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Space, weather and the venue
We will be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why South Alkham hosts choose us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Planning live paella in South Alkham
South Alkham is about 4 miles west of Dover, in Kent. From the centre of South Alkham to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. South Alkham is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Kearsney station, about 2.8 miles north-east. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Anthony the Martyr, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. South Alkham is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. South Alkham is within about 4 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Here we cover the CT15 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Meggett Lane and Alkham Valley Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to South Alkham for paella catering include Alkham (1 mile north-east), Drellingore (1 mile south-west), Chalksole Green (1 mile north), Ewell Minnis (1 mile north-east) and Wolverton (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (15 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-west), Dover (4 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-west), Deal (10 miles north-east) and Hythe (7 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Folkestone Castle (3.2 miles south-west) and Crabble Corn Mill (3.1 miles east). Not far away are Dover Western Heights and Sugar Loaf Hill.
- 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