Kent · England
Live paella catering in Well Street, Kent
Looking for paella catering in Well Street? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Community events and fairs
- Naming days and family parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Paella catering near Well Street
Paella catering in Well Street, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, mixed paella and vegan paella, and typical bookings are for garden get-togethers and anniversaries and engagement parties.
In a small place like Well Street, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Events we cater in Well Street
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Well Street:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
Historic houses near Well Street include Old Soar Manor (4.9 miles west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
What your quote should include
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- VAT, if it applies
- Payment terms and deposit
Step by step
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. In Well Street, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Towns and villages near Well Street
Also in Well Street
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Questions from Well Street
Is Well Street close to London?
About 27 miles from central London.
Do you come out to small places like Well Street?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
How many paellas should we have?
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.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Is paella a full meal?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Paella compared with other options
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Well Street hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is normally the most photographed pan.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The paellas you choose
- How many staff you need
- The number of people
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Which courses you have in mind
- Anything your venue supplies
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
Live paella in Well Street: local details
Well Street is about 4 miles west of Maidstone, in Kent. Events in Well Street are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for London, about 27 miles away.
For guests coming by train, East Malling station is about 0.5 miles away. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like The Malling School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Paella catering in ME19 is planned around your venue and timings. Close by, we cover events in East Malling (1 mile north), West Malling (1 mile north-west), Kings Hill (1 mile south-west), Ditton (1 mile north-east) and Red Hill (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (4 miles east), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (10 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Coldrum Long Barrow (3.5 miles north-west) and Leybourne Castle (1.4 miles north). The countryside around Well Street includes Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
- Local schools include St James the Great Academy (0.7 miles north)
- Nearby, you will find The Rising Sun pub (under half a mile north-east)
- 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