Kent · England
Paella Catering for West Malling events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in West Malling: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Naming days and family parties
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near West Malling
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
Paella catering in West Malling, made fresh on the day
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. On the menu are black rice, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater community events and fairs and family celebrations and christenings.
For a place the size of West Malling, your own garden is often the best venue: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Your choice of paellas
- How long we’re needed on site
- Waiting and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of the space, if you can
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Also near West Malling
More for events in West Malling
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
For event organisers in West Malling
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.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. In West Malling, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Catering an event in West Malling
West Malling is about 6 miles west of Maidstone, in Kent. From the centre of West Malling to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. West Malling is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 26 miles away.
Parks such as Manor Park Country Park usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Wherever your event is in ME19, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include High Street, Police Station Road and London Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the A20, West Malling is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. We also cook at events in Well Street (1 mile south-east), East Malling (1 mile east), Kings Hill (2 miles south), Ditton (2 miles east) and Red Hill (3 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (6 miles east), Sittingbourne (15 miles east), Dartford (13 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (9 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south-west) and Gravesend (9 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Coldrum Long Barrow (2.3 miles north-west) and Leybourne Castle (1.1 miles north-east). The countryside around West Malling includes Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
- Local schools include The Malling School (1.4 miles east) and The Malling School (1.4 miles east)
- Nearby, you will find Five Pointed Star Public House (under half a mile east)
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why West Malling hosts choose us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
Common questions in West Malling
What’s the nearest station to West Malling for guests?
The closest is West Malling station, roughly 0.7 miles away.
Could we have live paella in Manor Park Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
How does live paella catering work?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
- 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