Kent · England
Paella Catering in West Cross
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in West Cross: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Staff parties and work lunches
Planning an event in West Cross?
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Around midsummer it stays light in West Cross until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including 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.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Paella catering in West Cross, cooked live
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. Typical bookings include big birthdays and summer garden parties, with paella Valenciana, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a rural place like West Cross, the setting does a lot of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Count adults and children separately
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Let us know about other food at the event
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Events we cater in West Cross
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever you’re celebrating in West Cross, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Anniversary celebrations
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Family celebrations and christenings
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Rolvenden Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if it rains
- How long the team stays
- The deposit and payment dates
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why choose Love Paella in West Cross
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Catering across Kent, including West Cross
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
West Cross: venues, travel and local tips
West Cross is about 12 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. For an event in West Cross, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. West Cross is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 25 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Smallhythe Place (3.7 miles east) and Great Dixter (4.1 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Parish Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 5 miles of West Cross, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cater events across the TN17 postcode area and the streets around it. If your venue is just outside West Cross, we also cover Rolvenden (1 mile east), Rolvenden Layne (1 mile south-east), Strood (1 mile east), East End (2 miles north) and Parkgate (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (15 miles north), Ashford (12 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (13 miles north-west), Tenterden (3 miles east), Bearsted (15 miles north) and Park Wood (13 miles north).
A little further out are Benenden Hospital (2.2 miles north) and Sissinghurst Castle (4.5 miles north).
- Local pubs include Bull Hotel (0.5 miles east)
What paella catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- How many staff you need
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- The date and time of the event
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Diets and allergies you know about
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
West Cross questions
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is West Cross too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Which paella is most popular?
Most events choose two or three: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
About the dishes
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Other catering in West Cross
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
- 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