Kent · England
Live paella catering in Stockbury, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Stockbury. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Company summer parties
- Big birthdays
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering near Stockbury
How our paella catering works in Stockbury
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is what we bring to events in Stockbury. We are frequently asked to cater staff parties and work lunches and anniversary celebrations, with chicken and chorizo paella, black rice and vegetable paella.
For a rural spot like Stockbury, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Paella catering around Stockbury
Stockbury is about 4 miles west of Sittingbourne, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Stockbury will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our events stretch from Stockbury to Canterbury (about 19 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Stockbury Hill Wood? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Newington station, about 2.2 miles north-east. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Stockbury, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in ME9, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include The Street, Hill Green Road and Harrow Court; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Stockbury for paella catering include Yelsted (1 mile west), South Green (1 mile south-east), Hartlip (1 mile north), Lower Hartlip (1 mile north) and Danaway (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (6 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (4 miles east), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Faversham (11 miles east), Northfleet (15 miles north-west) and Minster (9 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Bayford Court (4.6 miles east) and KIMS hospital (4.5 miles south-west). Open spaces near Stockbury include Detling Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Three Squirrels pub (0.5 miles south)
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
- How long we’re needed on site
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The courses you’d like
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Where the event is
- A picture of the space, if you can
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
How it works
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in Stockbury 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.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Send allergies to us in writing
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. 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
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
For event organisers in Stockbury
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Stockbury
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Towns and villages near Stockbury
Also in Stockbury
Stockbury: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Mary Magdalene Church?
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 typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Stockbury too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How many different paellas?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It’s usually the most photographed pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
- 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