Kent · England
Paella Catering for South Stour events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in South Stour. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering in South Stour
Where we can cook in South Stour
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Paella catering in South Stour, cooked live
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. That’s why it works for so many events. We cook vegan paella, black rice and vegetable paella, and we are regularly asked to cater retirement celebrations and milestone birthday parties.
For a rural spot like South Stour, 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. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
South Stour questions
Is South Stour close to London?
Roughly 51 miles from the centre of London.
Do you come out to small places like South Stour?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including South Stour.
Why choose live paella in South Stour?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, 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 your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why South Stour hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
How we price paella catering
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Travel, parking and access
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we’re needed on site
- The number of people
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
Thinking about paella catering for your event in South Stour? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, use our quote form.
How it works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. In South Stour, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
How to get a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Read more
South Stour: venues, travel and local tips
South Stour is about 3 miles south-east of Ashford, in Kent. For paella catering in South Stour, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from South Stour to Canterbury (14 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Ashford International station is about 2.8 miles away. Parks such as Poulton Wood usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of South Stour, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
This part of Kent takes in TN25, so your event can be anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Mersham (1 mile north-east), Sevington (2 miles north), Hinxhill Park (2 miles north), Ridgeway (3 miles north-east) and Hinxhill (3 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (3 miles north-west), Canterbury (14 miles north-east), Folkestone (11 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north), Hythe (8 miles east) and Davington (15 miles north).
A little further out are William Harvey Hospital (2.4 miles north) and Ashford Designer Outlet (2.3 miles north-west). Not far away are Hatch Park.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
More for events in South Stour
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Mention any other courses or food
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we normally call guests over.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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 will do the cooking.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Events we cater in South Stour
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:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Historic houses near South Stour include Godinton House (4.8 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether VAT is included
- Who provides the crockery
- Allergen information for each dish
- 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