Kent · England
Paella Catering in Southernden
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Southernden and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Summer garden parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Community events and fairs
Live paella catering in Southernden
Paella catering in Southernden, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We are often asked to cater company summer parties and milestone birthday parties, serving chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegan paella.
Somewhere like Southernden, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Live paella in Southernden: local details
Southernden is about 8 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. From the centre of Southernden to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Southernden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 19 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Leeds Castle (4.8 miles north). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Southernden is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Anywhere in TN27, we can bring paella catering to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Swift's Green (1 mile south), Smarden Bell (2 miles south), Headcorn (2 miles south-west), Hearnden Green (2 miles west) and Biddenden Green (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (8 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (13 miles north-west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
A little further out are Coldbridge Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (3.8 miles south-west).
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Step by step
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. Evenings in Southernden stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; 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.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Places near Southernden
Also in Southernden
Southernden questions
How far is Southernden from London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Which paellas do you recommend?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is usually the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Live paella or other catering?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What you get with us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Perfect for your event in Southernden
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Southernden, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Birthday celebrations
For guests coming by train, Headcorn station is about 2.1 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- If the price includes VAT
- When payment is due
- How late numbers can change
- What happens if it rains
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
How we price paella catering
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Expected numbers
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Southernden, and we will put together a menu and price.
- 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