Kent · England
Paella party catering in Strood, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Strood and the surrounding area.
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Big birthdays
- Big family gatherings
Live paella party catering in Strood
A closer look at the menu
Tapas
Patatas bravas, tortilla, croquetas and olives while the paella cooks.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella normally gets the photos.
Paella party catering in Strood, made fresh on the day
We cater parties at homes, village halls with outdoor space, clubs and hired venues in and around Strood. Typical bookings include wakes and celebrations of life and family get-togethers, with seafood paella, tapas and vegetable paella.
A country party near Strood is perfect for paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Step by step
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it is light in Strood until about 9:15pm, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:00pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We arrive before your guests and set up.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve, then clear our area.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Paella compared with other options
Unlike a barbecue, paella is ready at once, so everyone eats together. And there’s no host stuck at the grill. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why Strood hosts choose us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Fast service from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Party venues around Strood
Strood is about 11 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. For a party in Strood, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 24 miles away.
Historic houses near Strood include Smallhythe Place (2.6 miles south-east) and Great Dixter (5 miles south-west). Grand settings like these frequently have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. Parks such as Turners Field typically need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is often easier. Strood is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, so many gardens around here have a great outlook.
We cover parties in every part of the TN17 postcode area. We can cater a party on streets such as Rolvenden Hill and Tenterden Road. If your venue is just outside Strood, we also cover Rolvenden (1 mile south-west), Rolvenden Layne (1 mile south), West Cross (1 mile west), Parkgate (2 miles north) and Broad Tenterden (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (15 miles north), Ashford (11 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (14 miles north-west), Bearsted (15 miles north), Park Wood (13 miles north) and Kennington (13 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include The C.M Booth Collection (1 mile south-west) and Benenden Hospital (2.4 miles north-west).
- Nearby schools include Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre (2.3 miles north-east)
Occasions we cook for in Strood
It’s sociable food, perfect for celebrations where people want to mingle.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Strood and Kent:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Family reunions
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Christenings and naming days
After a christening at a church like Parish Church of St Mary, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
What to look for in a quote
- The venue requirements
- What the price includes, item by item
- VAT, if it applies
- How long the team stays
Also in Strood
Your questions about paella party catering in Strood
Can you cater a reception after a service at Parish Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is paella OK for kids?
Most children enjoy paella, particularly a simple chicken pan. Let us know numbers and ages.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you supply crockery?
On request. Proper crockery or good-quality disposables can be added.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Where the event is
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
For event organisers in Strood
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Add a diet question to the invitation
- Plan seats for most guests
- Let the neighbours know
- Tell us how many children are coming
At food time, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
Tapas to start keep guests happy.
- 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