Kent · England
Paella party catering in Sholden, Kent
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Sholden: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella party catering near Sholden
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Organising a club, school or community event in Sholden? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Paella party catering for your party in Sholden
Mixed groups are easy: meat, seafood and vegetable or vegan pans side by side. A plain chicken paella keeps children happy. On the menu are vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella, and typical bookings are for street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers and wakes and celebrations of life.
Country parties near Sholden suit live paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Towns and villages near Sholden
More for events in Sholden
Planning a party in Sholden
Sholden is about 1 mile north-west of Deal, in Kent. Whether your party is in the middle of Sholden or on the outskirts, paella party catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Sholden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Sholden to Canterbury (13 miles away).
Thinking of a party in Betteshanger Park? Cooking in a public park typically needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Deal station, about 1.1 miles east. The coast is within about 2 miles, so seafood paella often features, with shelter from the breeze planned in.
Paella party catering in CT14 is planned around your venue. Whether your party is on The Street, London Road and Colmanton Grove or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at parties in Sholden Meadows (1 mile west), Mill Hill (1 mile south), Great Mongeham (1 mile south-west), Deal (1 mile south-east) and Finglesham (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (13 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (7 miles south-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north) and Broadstairs (10 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Deal Castle (1.4 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (1.2 miles east). Not far away are Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Nearby schools include Castle Community College (1 mile south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Magnet pub (0.6 miles south-east)
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. At midsummer, it is light in Sholden until about 9:15pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:00pm; add lights for the evening.
- First, we check the date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Read more
Perfect for your party in Sholden
It brings a bit of holiday feeling to a garden party.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Sholden and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Naming days and christenings
- Milestone birthdays
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Church of St Nicholas, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before booking
- The deadline for final numbers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Plan seats for most guests
- Make sure children stay back from the pans
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Have bins ready
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 paella party catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How long we’re needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The courses you’d like
- The venue or postcode
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your party, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Vegetable paella
Vegetarians get a real main course, and meat eaters often try it too.
Tapas
Patatas bravas, tortilla, croquetas and olives to start.
FAQs for Sholden
What’s the nearest station to Sholden for guests?
The closest is Deal station, roughly 1.1 miles away.
Is Sholden close to London?
About 66 miles from central London.
How many different paellas?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
When should I book?
Early is best, but ask even if it is soon. Send your date and we’ll check.
DIY paella versus live catering
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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want special but not formal, live paella fits perfectly. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why book with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- We cover Sholden and the whole of Kent
- A quote that spells everything out
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
- 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