Kent · England
Paella party catering in Harbourland, Kent
Planning paella party catering in Harbourland? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Retirement celebrations
- Christenings and naming days
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Live paella party catering in Harbourland
Paella party catering in Harbourland, cooked live
A paella party takes the cooking off your hands without turning the day into a formal dinner. We set up in a corner of the garden or venue and cook while your guests chat. We’re frequently asked to cater street and neighbourhood parties and christenings and naming days, serving chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and tapas.
A country party near Harbourland is perfect for paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Have bins ready
- Ensure children stay back from the pans
- Add a diet question to the invitation
Booked staff help serve and clear so you can relax.
Churros and chocolate go down well with all ages.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. A summer party in Harbourland stays light until about 9:15pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:00pm; add lights for the evening.
- We check your date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- We set up the burners and start the sofrito.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
Send us the date, your venue or ME14 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Why choose live paella in Harbourland?
Cooking yourself saves money but costs you the party. Book us and you’re free to enjoy it. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Harbourland questions
We’re having a ceremony at St Paul's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is Harbourland too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Will it be noisy or smoky?
Paella is cooked over gas, so there is cooking steam and smell but little smoke. Neighbours may well want an invitation.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
Do you cater for children?
Most children enjoy paella, particularly a simple chicken pan. Let us know numbers and ages.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you cook at halls and clubs?
Generally, if there is outdoor space to cook. Check the venue allows live cooking.
Party venues around Harbourland
Harbourland is about 2 miles north of Maidstone, in Kent. For paella party catering in Harbourland, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Harbourland is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Harbourland to Canterbury (23 miles away).
Parks such as Vinters Valley Park usually need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is often easier. Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as St Paul's Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Harbourland, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Paella party catering in ME14 is planned around your venue and your guests. If your venue is just outside Harbourland, we also cover Penenden Heath (1 mile south), Foley Park (1 mile south), Grove Green (1 mile south-east), Ringlestone (1 mile west) and Sandling (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Sittingbourne (9 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (15 miles west), Gravesend (12 miles north-west), Tonbridge (13 miles south-west), Faversham (15 miles east) and Northfleet (13 miles north-west).
A little further out are KIMS hospital (0.9 miles south-east) and Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum (1.4 miles south-west). Open spaces near Harbourland include Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Local schools include Valley Park School (1.2 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The King's Arms (0.7 miles north)
Places near Harbourland
More for events in Harbourland
What’s in the pans
Churros
All ages love churros.
Tapas
Bravas, tortilla, croquetas and more to start.
What affects the price in Harbourland
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Before you choose a spot
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work. What matters most:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A photo of the garden helps us check the space
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- 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