Kent · England
Paella Catering for Stodmarsh events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Stodmarsh.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
Paella catering near Stodmarsh
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella catering in Stodmarsh, cooked live
A couple of different pans covers everyone: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Each is cooked separately. For community events and fairs and office lunches and staff parties, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, black rice and vegetable paella.
Somewhere like Stodmarsh, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Mention any other courses or food
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Is live paella right for your event?
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Places near Stodmarsh
Also in Stodmarsh
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we are needed on site
- Your choice of paellas
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of where we’d cook
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Stodmarsh questions
What’s the nearest station to Stodmarsh for guests?
Sturry station, about 2.6 miles west of the centre.
Can you cook in Grove Ferry Picnic Area?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Where we can cook in Stodmarsh
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
Live paella in Stodmarsh: local details
Stodmarsh is about 5 miles east of Canterbury, in Kent. For an event in Stodmarsh, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Wickhambreaux Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Sturry station is about 2.6 miles away. The coast is within about 6 miles of Stodmarsh, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in CT3, we can cook for your guests. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Hersden (1 mile north-west), Westbere (2 miles west), Hollow Street (2 miles north), Hoath (2 miles north) and Chislet (3 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (5 miles west), Margate (10 miles north-east), Dover (12 miles south-east), Folkestone (15 miles south), Ramsgate (10 miles east) and Broadstairs (12 miles east).
A little further out are St Martins Hospital (3.6 miles south-west) and Canterbury Castle (4.9 miles west). Open spaces near Stodmarsh include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Nearby schools include Spires Academy (1.6 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion pub (under half a mile east)
Why choose paella catering in Stodmarsh?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Naming days and family parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Office lunches and staff parties
Nearby historic houses include Goodnestone Park (4.4 miles south-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Questions to ask before booking
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the price includes, item by item
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- When final numbers are due
The process
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Planning an evening event in Stodmarsh? 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.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
- 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