Kent · England
Paella Catering for Yelsted events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Yelsted: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Community events and fairs
- Retirement celebrations
Paella catering for Yelsted events
FAQs for Yelsted
Could we have live paella in Stockbury Hill Wood?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
What’s the nearest station to Yelsted for guests?
Rainham (Kent) station, about 2.5 miles north of the centre.
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.
Do you cater in Yelsted?
We do. We cook at events in Yelsted and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
About our paella catering in Yelsted
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. Once it’s ready, we serve it hot from the pan. On the menu are vegan paella, black rice and seafood paella, and we’re frequently booked for weddings, from canapés to evening food and christenings and family gatherings.
For a rural spot like Yelsted, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
What paella catering costs
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- The paellas you choose
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and time of the event
- The courses you’d like
- The venue or postcode
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Yelsted
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
Nearby places to Yelsted
Also in Yelsted
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Step by step
Here’s how the day usually runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. In Yelsted, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Should I cook it myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Live paella in Yelsted: local details
Yelsted is about 3 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Yelsted will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. Yelsted is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Rainham (Kent) station, about 2.5 miles north. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Yelsted, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in ME9, we can cook for your guests. Local streets include Yelsted Road and Yelsted Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Nearby, we also cater events in Stockbury (1 mile east), Meresborough (1 mile north), Hartlip (1 mile north-east), Lower Hartlip (2 miles north-east) and Rainham (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (6 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (5 miles east), Gravesend (12 miles north-west), Faversham (12 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include KIMS hospital (4 miles south-west). Not far away are Detling Hill.
- Schools near Yelsted include Leigh Academy Rainham (2.2 miles north)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Confirm allergies by email
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Occasions we cook for in Yelsted
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Yelsted:
- Big birthdays
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Garden get-togethers
Parks such as Stockbury Hill Wood generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Comparing caterers
- What the price includes, item by item
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Who provides the crockery
- If the price includes VAT
- 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