Kent · England
Live paella catering in West Cliffe, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in West Cliffe and across Kent.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Summer garden parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
Planning an event in West Cliffe?
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
How our paella catering works in West Cliffe
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Whether it is fairs, fêtes and festivals and leaving dos and retirements, we will put together a menu of vegan paella, seafood paella and mixed paella and more.
In a rural place like West Cliffe, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. 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 West Cliffe hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Your questions about paella catering in West Cliffe
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook near the sea around West Cliffe?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that’s what it’s made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
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.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Also near West Cliffe
More for events in West Cliffe
Perfect for your event in West Cliffe
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in West Cliffe and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Nearby historic houses include Walmer Castle (3.8 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
What to look for in a quote
- Space, access and power needs
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- A clear list of what’s included
- If the price includes VAT
Step by step
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Evenings in West Cliffe 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning live paella in West Cliffe
West Cliffe is about 3 miles north-east of Dover, in Kent. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in West Cliffe. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 15 miles away.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like St Margaret's-at-Cliffe Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Martin Mill station, about 1.2 miles north. West Cliffe is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of Kent takes in CT15. For events just outside West Cliffe, we cover St Margaret's at Cliffe (1 mile east), Martin Mill (1 mile north), East Langdon (1 mile north-west), Guston (1 mile west) and Martin (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (15 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles south-west), Folkestone (10 miles south-west), Ramsgate (13 miles north), Broadstairs (15 miles north) and Deal (5 miles north).
A little further out are St Margaret's Museum (1.2 miles east) and Dover Castle (2.3 miles south-west). The countryside around West Cliffe includes Dover Western Heights.
- Nearby schools include Duke of York's Royal Military School (1.6 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Red Lion Inn (0.6 miles east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
- 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