Kent · England
Paella Catering in Standen
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Standen. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Retirement and leaving parties
Book paella catering in Standen
How our paella catering works in Standen
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Whether it’s leaving dos and retirements and garden get-togethers, we’ll put together a menu of mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
In a rural place like Standen, the setting does plenty of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Standen: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
How far is Standen from London?
About 41 miles from central London.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
It’s ideal. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is often the first pan to empty.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Standen
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Catering across Kent, including Standen
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
- Timings and hours
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Getting an accurate quote
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything your venue supplies
- The venue or postcode
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
Perfect for your event in Standen
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Standen, people book us for occasions like:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Birthday celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, Headcorn station is about 2.6 miles away.
What your quote should include
- When final numbers are due
- How bad weather is handled
- How each diet is kept separate
- Space, access and power needs
What else we do in Standen
How it works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. Planning an evening event in Standen? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
Catering an event in Standen
Standen is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Standen and the surrounding area. We cook in 922 places in Kent. Our events stretch from Standen to Canterbury (21 miles away).
Standen is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, 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 TN27, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on Smarden Road, Pook Lane and Weeks Lane or the roads around them. For events just outside Standen, we cover Curteis' Corner (1 mile south-west), Lashenden (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile north-east), Biddenden (1 mile south-west) and Stede Quarter (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west), Foley Park (12 miles north-west) and Paddock Wood (12 miles west).
A little further out are Benenden Hospital (3.5 miles south-west) and Romden Castle (2.7 miles north-east).
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Confirm allergies by email
- Tell us what else is being served
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
- 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