Kent · England
Live paella catering in Upper Hardres, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Upper Hardres. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Live paella catering in Upper Hardres
Paella catering in Upper Hardres, made fresh on the day
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 milestone birthday parties and retirement and leaving parties, we will put together a menu of vegetable paella, mixed paella and black rice.
In a rural place like Upper Hardres, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
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 keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
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. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
What happens on the day
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you’re free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. Evenings in Upper Hardres stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Upper Hardres
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Drinks service on request
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
How we price paella catering
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Your choice of paellas
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The date and time of the event
- Any dietary needs and allergies
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Paella catering around Upper Hardres
Upper Hardres is about 4 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. From the centre of Upper Hardres to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Peter and St Paul, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Upper Hardres is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in CT4, we can cook for your guests. Your event could be at a home on Broxhall Road and Hardres Court Road. We also cook at events in Lynsore Bottom (1 mile south-east), Pett Bottom (1 mile north-east), Lower Hardres (1 mile north), Petham (2 miles west) and Street End (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (4 miles north), Dover (11 miles south-east), Folkestone (10 miles south), Whitstable (10 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Canterbury Castle (4.1 miles north) and Kent and Canterbury Hospital (3.5 miles north).
- Pubs nearby include The Duck pub (0.9 miles north-east)
Occasions we cook for in Upper Hardres
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversary celebrations
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Bekesbourne station, about 3.9 miles north-east.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- Whether travel is included
- How late numbers can change
- Whether VAT is included
FAQs for Upper Hardres
How far is Upper Hardres from London?
Roughly 54 miles from the centre of London.
Do you come out to small places like Upper Hardres?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is normally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Can you cook indoors?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Upper Hardres? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Places near Upper Hardres
More for events in Upper Hardres
- 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