Kent · England
Paella Catering in Ulcombe
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Ulcombe.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Company summer parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Paella catering near Ulcombe
Paella catering in Ulcombe, cooked live
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. Popular choices include black rice, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for office lunches and staff parties and wedding breakfasts and evening food.
In a rural place like Ulcombe, 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. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Ulcombe: your questions answered
Is Ulcombe close to London?
Roughly 37 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Which station should guests use for Ulcombe?
The closest is Harrietsham station, roughly 2.5 miles away.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Which paella is most popular?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is usually the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, including Kent. Find your area.
Towns and villages near Ulcombe
Also in Ulcombe
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Ulcombe
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Paella compared with other options
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Send allergies to us in writing
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Live paella in Ulcombe: local details
Ulcombe is about 6 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Ulcombe and the surrounding area. We cook in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Ulcombe to Canterbury (19 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Ulcombe Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Harrietsham station is about 2.5 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Ulcombe, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in ME17, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From The Street and Chapmans Place or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Fairbourne Heath (1 mile north-east), Eastwood (1 mile south-east), Kingswood (1 mile north-west), Chartway Street (1 mile north-west) and Broadstone (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (6 miles north-west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (11 miles west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Sutton Valence Castle (2 miles west) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.3 miles north).
- Local pubs include The Harrow Public House (within half a mile south)
Why choose paella catering in Ulcombe?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
In Ulcombe and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Garden get-togethers
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Family celebrations and christenings
Nearby historic houses include Leeds Castle (2.5 miles north) and Stoneacre (3.9 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Questions to ask before you book
- How late numbers can change
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How long the team stays
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
The process
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in Ulcombe? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:15pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Get a quote
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
- 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