Kent · England
Live paella catering in St Lawrence, Kent
Paella 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 St Lawrence.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Milestone birthday parties
- Company summer parties
Paella catering near St Lawrence
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is generally the most photographed pan.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella catering in St Lawrence, cooked live
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around St Lawrence. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella, and we are often booked for garden get-togethers and big birthdays.
A place like St Lawrence frequently has a hall, a club or a pub garden nearby; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. We plan the timings around your day, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Before you choose a spot
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- We cover St Lawrence and the whole of Kent
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Questions from St Lawrence
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Laurence?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater in St Lawrence?
We do. We cook at events in St Lawrence and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
Can paella be the only main course?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Occasions we cook for in St Lawrence
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Here are some of the events we cook for in St Lawrence and Kent:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
- Company summer parties
For guests coming by train, Ramsgate station is in St Lawrence itself.
Before you book anyone
- Payment terms and deposit
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- What the price includes, item by item
- How late numbers can change
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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 be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Working with your venue
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Nearby places to St Lawrence
Also in St Lawrence
How we price paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
- Parking and unloading
- Whether you need crockery
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The courses you’d like
- The date and time of the event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning live paella in St Lawrence
St Lawrence is about 1 mile west of Ramsgate, in Kent. From the centre of St Lawrence to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. St Lawrence is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from St Lawrence to Canterbury (about 14 miles away).
Historic houses near St Lawrence include Quex Park (4.1 miles north-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Laurence, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. St Lawrence is within about a mile of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
For paella catering in CT11 and CT12, we plan around your venue. That could mean an event in a garden on Park Road, Saxon Road and Downs Road or the roads around them. St Lawrence sits on or near the A255, which makes travel to your event easy. For events just outside St Lawrence, we cover Ramsgate (1 mile east), Northwood (1 mile north), Upton (2 miles north-east), St Peter's (2 miles north) and Broadstairs (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (14 miles west), Margate (3 miles north), Dover (14 miles south), Deal (8 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west) and Tower Hamlets (15 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Westwood Cross (1.5 miles north) and Ramsgate General Hospital (0.6 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
- Schools near St Lawrence include Chatham House Grammar School (0.6 miles east) and Churchill House School With Railed Area (0.7 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Admiral Fox pub (under half a mile south-east)
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. In St Lawrence, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us 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.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
- 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