Kent · England
Live paella catering in St Margarets, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in St Margarets. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
Book paella catering in St Margarets
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Put allergy details in writing
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
How our paella catering works in St Margarets
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is exactly what we bring to your event in St Margarets. On the menu are paella Valenciana, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re often booked for company summer parties and engagement and anniversary parties.
Somewhere as small as St Margarets, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Places near St Margarets
What else we do in St Margarets
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many guests are eating
- How long we’re needed on site
- Waiting and bar staff
Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
- The date and time of the event
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Where we can cook in St Margarets
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
Common questions in St Margarets
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Margaret of Antioch?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can we choose the seafood?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
What happens with live paella?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Where do you cater?
We cover London and the South East, including Kent. Find your area.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
Catering an event in St Margarets
St Margarets is about 3 miles south-east of Dartford, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of St Margarets or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. St Margarets is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from St Margarets to London (16 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Margaret of Antioch, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Farningham Road station, about 1.1 miles south-west. St Margarets is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in DA4, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Nearby, we also cater events in South Darenth (1 mile south-west), Darenth (1 mile north), Green Street Green (1 mile east), Sutton at Hone (1 mile west) and Grubb Street (1 mile east). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (15 miles south-east), Dartford (3 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (9 miles south), Gravesend (5 miles east), Tonbridge (15 miles south) and Northfleet (4 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Stone Museum of Geology (2.5 miles north) and Darent Valley Hospital (1.7 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Sawyers Lake and Wansunt Pit.
- Local schools include Leigh Academy (2.1 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include Fox & Hounds pub (0.9 miles north)
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Around midsummer it stays light in St Margarets until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning help
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Who books paella catering in St Margarets?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Birthday celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
- Staff parties and work lunches
Parks such as Darenth Country Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Comparing caterers
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- VAT, if it applies
- Travel and parking costs
- What happens if it rains
Why choose live paella in St Margarets?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in St Margarets. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why St Margarets hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- We cover St Margarets and the whole of Kent
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
- 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