Kent · England
Paella Catering in Woodhatch
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Woodhatch. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Christenings and family gatherings
Paella catering for Woodhatch events
Questions from Woodhatch
Is Woodhatch too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
How does live paella catering work?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Is halal food available?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
How our paella catering works in Woodhatch
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Popular choices include chicken and chorizo paella, paella Valenciana and seafood paella, and we’re frequently booked for staff parties and work lunches and naming days and family parties.
In a rural place like Woodhatch, the setting does plenty of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Catering an event in Woodhatch
Woodhatch is about 4 miles north-west of Tonbridge, in Kent. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Woodhatch. Woodhatch is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 23 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hildenborough station, about 1.3 miles south-east. Nearby historic houses include Knole House (3 miles north) and Penshurst Place (3.4 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Woodhatch is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Anywhere in TN11 and TN14, we can bring paella catering to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Hall's Green (1 mile west), Sevenoaks Weald (1 mile north-west), Charcott (2 miles south-west), Goathurst Common (3 miles north-west) and Ide Hill (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (14 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north), Sevenoaks (4 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (7 miles south-east), Tonbridge (4 miles south-east) and Swanley (12 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Chiddingstone Castle (3.6 miles south-west) and Sevenoaks Museum (3.4 miles north). The countryside around Woodhatch includes Dryhill Nature Reserve and Barden Lake.
What we need at the venue
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you. The main points are:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Give us separate numbers for children
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Why choose paella catering in Woodhatch?
There is no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Woodhatch and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Weald Community Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
How the day works
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Around midsummer it stays light in Woodhatch until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, 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.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
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Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Other catering in Woodhatch
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why choose Love Paella in Woodhatch
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Events in Woodhatch and across Kent
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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