Kent · England
Live paella catering in Woodlands, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Woodlands. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
Book paella catering in Woodlands
Paella catering in Woodlands, cooked live
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own. Whether it is birthday celebrations and retirement and leaving parties, we can cook seafood paella, vegetable paella and black rice.
Somewhere like Woodlands, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Woodlands: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Woodlands?
Kemsing station, about 1.8 miles south of the centre.
Can you cook in Kemsing Down?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
What seafood can we have?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
Is paella enough as a main?
It’s a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Woodlands.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
What else we do in Woodlands
Who books paella catering in Woodlands?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Woodlands book us for occasions like:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Anniversary celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Nearby historic houses include Lullingstone Castle (3.2 miles north-west) and Knole House (4.3 miles south-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Before you book anyone
- A clear list of what’s included
- Payment terms and deposit
- Staff numbers and hours
- Who provides the crockery
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Paella catering around Woodlands
Woodlands is about 4 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Woodlands or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is London, about 19 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Kemsing station, about 1.8 miles south. Parks such as Kemsing Down generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Woodlands is within about 3 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
This part of Kent takes in TN15. If your venue is just outside Woodlands, we also cover Cotman's Ash (1 mile south-west), Knatts Valley (1 mile north), Romney Street (1 mile north-west), East Hill (1 mile north) and Heaverham (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (8 miles north), Sevenoaks (4 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (9 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (9 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Sevenoaks Hospital (3.3 miles south-west) and Kemsing Castle Bank (1.4 miles south-west).
- Nearby, you’ll find The Rising Sun pub (0.5 miles south-west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
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.
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Around midsummer it stays light in Woodlands until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, 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 sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Planning help
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Confirm allergies by email
- Count adults and children separately
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Why choose live paella in Woodlands?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why choose Love Paella in Woodlands
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- We cover Woodlands and the whole of Kent
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
What paella catering costs
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
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.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
- 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