Kent · England
Live paella catering in Sundridge, Kent
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 Sundridge.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Live paella catering in Sundridge
How it works
Here’s how the day normally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Sundridge until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Related guides
How our paella catering works in Sundridge
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will suggest what suits your event. We’re often asked to cater retirement celebrations and milestone birthday parties, with vegetable paella, black rice and mixed paella.
In a small place like Sundridge, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
What affects the price in Sundridge
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
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.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
- The venue or postcode
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
FAQs for Sundridge
Could we have live paella in Montreal Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is Sundridge too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is paella enough as a main?
It’s a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Space, weather and the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Also near Sundridge
Other catering in Sundridge
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It’s the pan people photograph.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Catering an event in Sundridge
Sundridge is about 3 miles west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Sundridge and nearby villages. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 18 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Combe Bank School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Dunton Green station, about 2.4 miles north-east. Sundridge is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of Kent takes in TN14, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Church Road, Chapmans Road and Main Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. For events just outside Sundridge, we cover Brasted (1 mile west), Chipstead (1 mile north-east), Bessels Green (1 mile east), Brasted Chart (1 mile south-west) and Chevening (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Dartford (12 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south-east), Gravesend (15 miles north-east), Tonbridge (9 miles south-east) and Northfleet (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Sevenoaks Museum (3 miles east) and Sevenoaks Hospital (3 miles east). Not far away are Betsom's Hill and Dryhill Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Sundridge include Trinity School (2 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The White Hart pub (0.6 miles west)
Is live paella right for your event?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. 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.
What you get with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria and bar staff available
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
- 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