Kent · England
Paella party catering in Etchinghill, Kent
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Etchinghill: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big family gatherings
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Paella party catering near Etchinghill
What paella party catering costs
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Travel, parking and access
- How many guests are eating
- How long we are needed on site
Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Diets and allergies you know about
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Paella party catering in Etchinghill, cooked live
Nothing gets a party going like the smell of paella cooking. People drift over with a drink to watch it cook. On the menu are mixed paella, seafood paella and churros, and we’re often booked for engagement and anniversary parties and summer garden parties.
Country parties near Etchinghill suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
Etchinghill: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Will it be noisy or smoky?
Paella is cooked over gas, so there’s cooking steam and smell but little smoke. The smell is generally the best advert for the party.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
How it works
When we arrive, 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. At midsummer, it is light in Etchinghill until about 9:15pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it’s dark by about 7:00pm; add lights for the evening.
- Send us your date, address and numbers.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve from the pan and pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A quick photo of the spot helps us plan
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Is live paella right for your party?
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. With live paella, you are a guest too. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why choose Love Paella in Etchinghill
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Catering across Kent, including Etchinghill
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
- Have cover ready for a shower
- Give separate numbers for children
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
Kids are fascinated by the huge pans, from a safe distance.
Add bread, salad and lemon.
What else we do in Etchinghill
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Perfect for your party in Etchinghill
It suits mixed ages and mixed diets, from toddlers to grandparents.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
Historic houses near Etchinghill include Acrise Place (2.4 miles north-east) and Westenhanger Castle (3 miles south-west). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- How bad weather is handled
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- VAT, if it applies
Hosting a paella party in Etchinghill
Etchinghill is about 3 miles north of Hythe, in Kent. Tell us where your party in Etchinghill will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Etchinghill is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Etchinghill to Canterbury (about 12 miles away).
If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Sandling station, about 2 miles south-west. Etchinghill is within about 4 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, so many gardens around here have a great outlook. The coast is within about 4 miles, so seafood paella often features, and we always plan for wind.
For paella party catering in CT18, we plan around your venue. That could mean a party in a garden on St Marys Close, Meriden Walk and St Marys Drive or the roads around them. Other places close to Etchinghill for paella party catering include Lyminge (1 mile north), Postling (1 mile west), Woodland (2 miles north-west), Skeete (2 miles north-west) and Ottinge (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Ashford (10 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (9 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-east), Deal (15 miles north-east) and Hythe (3 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Royal Victoria Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (1.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Etchinghill includes Tolsford Hill.
- Local schools include Brockhill Park Performing Arts College (2.4 miles south-west)
- 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