Kent · England
Paella party catering in Ickham, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events makes the food a highlight of your party in Ickham.
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Big family gatherings
- Leaving dos and retirements
Planning an event in Ickham?
How our paella party catering works in Ickham
Mixed groups are easy: meat, seafood and vegetable or vegan pans side by side. Children usually love a simple chicken paella. Whether it’s garden get-togethers and street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers, we can cook tapas, churros and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
In a small place like Ickham, a party in the garden or a nearby field is frequently the plan. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we’ll handle the rest. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Plan seats for most guests
- Have cover ready for a shower
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
At food time, we serve straight from the pan.
We can bring plates, cutlery and staff.
Hosting a paella party in Ickham
Ickham is about 4 miles east of Canterbury, in Kent. Wherever your party is in the CT3 area, we can cook for your guests. Ickham is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook.
Historic houses near Ickham include Goodnestone Park (3 miles south-east). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Bekesbourne station, about 2.3 miles south-west.
Wherever your party is in CT3, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater a party on streets such as The Street, School Lane and Baye Lane. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Wickhambreaux (1 mile north), Seaton (1 mile north-east), Littlebourne (1 mile west), Bramling (1 mile south-east) and Bekesbourne (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (4 miles west), Margate (11 miles north-east), Dover (11 miles south-east), Folkestone (13 miles south), Ramsgate (11 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (12 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Canterbury Castle (4.7 miles west) and St Martins Hospital (3.3 miles west).
- Local pubs include The Rose Inn (0.5 miles north)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Ordering in is easy but forgettable. Live paella gives guests a show. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What you get with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Drinks service on request
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Catering across Kent, including Ickham
Where we can cook in Ickham
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Sunset in Ickham is about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June. If the party runs past dark, we’ll need light where we cook and serve.
- 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.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Give us a contact for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
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Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- Your date and when you want to eat
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
FAQs for Ickham
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St John: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is Ickham close to London?
About 57 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Will the neighbours notice?
Less smoke than a barbecue, more smell. A friendly note to the neighbours helps.
Is paella OK for kids?
Of course. Children usually love a plain chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Can you supply crockery?
We can. Let us know and we’ll add it to the quote.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you cook in my back garden?
Generally, yes, if there’s a flat, open spot away from fences and branches. Send us a photo of the space.
Can you cater a party at a village hall?
Generally. We need somewhere outside or well ventilated to cook, and the venue’s permission.
Occasions we cook for in Ickham
It is the easiest way to feed a party without being stuck in the kitchen, and it’s a talking point.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Garden get-togethers
- Anniversary celebrations
- Baby celebrations
- Retirement and leaving parties
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Church of St John, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Before you book anyone
- Staff numbers and hours
- Who provides the crockery
- VAT, if it applies
- Travel and parking costs
Other catering in Ickham
About the dishes
Vegetable paella
Vegetarians get a real main course, and meat eaters often try it too.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A smoky favourite with children and adults, ideal for guests who skip seafood.
- 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