Kent · England
Paella party catering in Pested, Kent
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Pested: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Milestone birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Planning an event in Pested?
Paella party catering in Pested, cooked live
Nothing gets a party going like the smell of paella cooking. Guests gather round, glass in hand, to watch. Whether it’s engagement and anniversary parties and wakes and memorial gatherings, we’ll put together a menu of mixed paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
Country parties near Pested suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
FAQs for Pested
Which station should guests use for Pested?
The closest is Wye station, roughly 3.6 miles away.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater a party at a village hall?
Normally, if there is outdoor space to cook. Check the venue allows live cooking.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Organising for someone else?
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Count adults and children separately
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Plan seats for most guests
- Plan where rubbish goes
We arrive before your guests to set up, so the cooking is under way as people arrive.
A jug of sangria sets the tone, with an alcohol-free version for drivers and children.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels.
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well, and meat eaters often try it too.
Planning a party in Pested
Pested is about 6 miles north of Ashford, in Kent. From the centre of Pested to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Pested is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 9 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Belmont House and Gardens (3.4 miles north-west). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. For guests coming by train, Wye station is about 3.6 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Pested, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Here we cover the TN25 postcode area. For parties just outside Pested, we cover Challock (1 mile south), Paddock (1 mile south-west), Badlesmere (2 miles north), Throwley Forstal (2 miles north-west) and Throwley (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (15 miles west), Ashford (6 miles south), Canterbury (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-west), Whitstable (11 miles north-east) and Faversham (6 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Tower keep castle at Chilham (3.6 miles east).
- Nearby, you will find The Stag pub (0.5 miles south)
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Pested
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
- Tapas
Why choose live paella in Pested?
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. With live paella, you’re a guest too. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What you get with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Sunset in Pested is about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June. If the party runs past dark, we will need light where we cook and serve.
- You tell us the date, address, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up our cooking area and start cooking.
- Guests gather round as it cooks, nibbling tapas if you’ve booked them.
- We serve it hot from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- 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.
Related guides
Nearby places to Pested
More for events in Pested
Perfect for your party in Pested
One big dish beats lots of fiddly ones, and there’s little waste.
Whatever you are celebrating in Pested, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Baby celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Church of St Peter, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
What to look for in a quote
- How late numbers can change
- VAT, if it applies
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How long the team stays
- 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