Kent · England
Paella party catering in Ulcombe, Kent
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Ulcombe: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Family reunions
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Planning an event in Ulcombe?
How our paella party catering works in Ulcombe
We cater parties at homes, village halls with outdoor space, clubs and hired venues. We are often asked to cater wakes and memorial gatherings and retirement and leaving parties, with vegetable paella, seafood paella and churros.
Near Ulcombe, parties are frequently in gardens or fields. Let us know about access, and we will plan the set-up. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Ulcombe parties: what to know
Ulcombe is about 6 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. From the centre of Ulcombe to the outskirts, paella party catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Ulcombe is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Ulcombe to Canterbury (19 miles away).
Historic houses near Ulcombe include Leeds Castle (2.5 miles north) and Stoneacre (3.9 miles north-west). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as All Saints Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Ulcombe, so many gardens around here have a great outlook.
Wherever your party is in ME17, we can cook for your guests. Whether your party is on The Street and Chapmans Place or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to Ulcombe for paella party catering include Fairbourne Heath (1 mile north-east), Eastwood (1 mile south-east), Kingswood (1 mile north-west), Chartway Street (1 mile north-west) and Broadstone (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (6 miles north-west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (11 miles west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Sutton Valence Castle (2 miles west) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.3 miles north).
- Nearby, you will find The Harrow Public House (under half a mile south)
Paella compared with other options
A buffet takes hours to prepare and leaves food sitting out. Paella is cooked fresh and served hot. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What you get with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Events in Ulcombe and across Kent
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
See Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
How it works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. A summer party in Ulcombe stays light until about 9:15pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:00pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- First, we check the 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.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or ME17 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- The length of service
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The courses you’d like
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we will put together a menu and price.
Why choose paella party catering in Ulcombe?
One big dish beats lots of fiddly ones.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Ulcombe book us for occasions like:
- Naming days and christenings
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden get-togethers
- Big birthdays
For guests coming by train, Harrietsham station is about 2.5 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- Allergen information for each dish
- Whether VAT is included
- How bad weather is handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Questions from Ulcombe
Is Ulcombe too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
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’ll work to whatever the site needs.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you cook in my back garden?
Many gardens work. We need level ground, clearance and access. Send us a picture.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Dishes our guests love
Churros
Churros are a treat for all ages.
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well.
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Send a picture of the garden so we can check
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Ulcombe
- Vegetable paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Churros
What else we do in Ulcombe
- 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