Kent · England
Live paella catering in St Mary in the Marsh, Kent
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in St Mary in the Marsh and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering for St Mary in the Marsh events
Paella catering in St Mary in the Marsh, made fresh on the day
The cooking is half the fun. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. We are frequently asked to cater festivals, fairs and school events and company summer parties, serving vegan paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a small place like St Mary in the Marsh, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
St Mary in the Marsh: venues, travel and local tips
St Mary in the Marsh is about 7 miles south-west of Hythe, in Kent. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around St Mary in the Marsh. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 19 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as The Marsh Academy, can book us as a food stall. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Here we cover the TN29 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Wades Close, Rectory Road and Pickneybush Lane or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to St Mary in the Marsh for paella catering include St Mary's Bay (1 mile east), Newchurch (2 miles north), Burmarsh (3 miles north-east), Postling Green (5 miles north) and Bonnington (5 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (9 miles north), Folkestone (11 miles north-east), Hythe (7 miles north-east), Hawkinge (12 miles north-east), Tenterden (12 miles west) and Cheriton (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Romney 'castle' (2.5 miles south-west) and Brenzett Aeronautical Museum (3.5 miles west).
- Pubs nearby include The Star Inn (under half a mile south-west)
Towns and villages near St Mary in the Marsh
Other catering in St Mary in the Marsh
Perfect for your event in St Mary in the Marsh
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Big birthdays
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Parks such as Romney Warren Country Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Before you book anyone
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How long the team stays
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Planning an evening event in St Mary in the Marsh? Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
St Mary in the Marsh: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like St Mary in the Marsh?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
What does paella catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that is what it’s made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Do you cover St Mary in the Marsh?
We do. We cook at events in St Mary in the Marsh and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Ask for labels on each pan
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Parking and unloading
- Guest numbers
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Where the event is
- Which courses you have in mind
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
- 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