Kent · England
Live paella catering in Strood, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Strood. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Summer garden parties
- Birthday celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering for Strood events
Paella catering in Strood, cooked live
A couple of different pans covers everyone: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Every pan is cooked on its own. Popular choices include mixed paella, paella Valenciana and black rice, and typical bookings are for naming days and family parties and garden parties and summer barbecues.
In a rural place like Strood, the setting does plenty of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Planning live paella in Strood
Strood is about 11 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Strood will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up. 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 24 miles away.
Historic houses near Strood include Smallhythe Place (2.6 miles south-east) and Great Dixter (5 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Parish Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Strood is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cater events across TN17 and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Rolvenden Hill and Tenterden Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Rolvenden (1 mile south-west), Rolvenden Layne (1 mile south), West Cross (1 mile west), Parkgate (2 miles north) and Broad Tenterden (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (15 miles north), Ashford (11 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (14 miles north-west), Bearsted (15 miles north), Park Wood (13 miles north) and Kennington (13 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include The C.M Booth Collection (1 mile south-west) and Benenden Hospital (2.4 miles north-west).
- Local schools include Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre (2.3 miles north-east)
Also in Strood
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why Strood hosts choose us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Confirm allergies by email
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Your questions about paella catering in Strood
Is Strood too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Parish Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Is paella a full meal?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, including Kent. See all areas.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you cover Strood?
We do. We cook at events in Strood and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
- Distance and access to the venue
- Guest numbers
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The venue or postcode
- The date and rough timings
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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 the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. In Strood, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- 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 paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- 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