Kent · England
Paella Catering for Swingfield Minnis events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Swingfield Minnis: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Company summer parties
- Garden get-togethers
Paella catering for Swingfield Minnis events
Paella catering in Swingfield Minnis, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include anniversary celebrations and retirement celebrations, serving paella Valenciana, seafood paella and vegan paella.
In a small place like Swingfield Minnis, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
What happens on the day
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 Swingfield Minnis? 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Related guides
Swingfield Minnis: your questions answered
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Which station should guests use for Swingfield Minnis?
Shepherds Well station, about 4.1 miles north-east of the centre.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
What is live paella catering?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, Kent included. Find your area.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Where we can cook in Swingfield Minnis
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Swingfield Minnis
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Catering an event in Swingfield Minnis
Swingfield Minnis is about 4 miles north of Folkestone, in Kent. Events in Swingfield Minnis are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 10 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Shepherds Well station, about 4.1 miles north-east. Nearby historic houses include Acrise Place (1.5 miles south-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Swingfield Minnis, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Swingfield Minnis is within about 5 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cover events in every part of the CT15 postcode area and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Canterbury Road and Hoad Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. With the A260 close by, Swingfield Minnis is simple for us to get to. Other places close to Swingfield Minnis for paella catering include Selsted (1 mile north), Densole (1 mile south), Wootton (2 miles north), Hawkinge (2 miles south) and Old Hawkinge (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (10 miles north), Dover (6 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south), Whitstable (15 miles north) and Deal (11 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (3.9 miles south-west) and Royal Victoria Hospital (4.1 miles south). The countryside around Swingfield Minnis includes Cheriton Hill.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- How many courses
- How many staff you need
- Travel, parking and access
- The paellas you choose
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Live paella or other catering?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Put allergy details in writing
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Why choose paella catering in Swingfield Minnis?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Swingfield Minnis book us for events such as:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Garden get-togethers
- Birthday celebrations
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Selsted Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Comparing caterers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Who provides the crockery
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
Nearby places to Swingfield Minnis
Other catering in Swingfield Minnis
- 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