Kent · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Arpinge
Looking for wedding paella catering in Arpinge? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Evening food for extra guests
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
Wedding paella catering near Arpinge
Arpinge: your questions answered
Can you cook near the sea around Arpinge?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Do you come out to small places like Arpinge?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
What about supplier meals?
Just add them to your numbers. Tell us when they’ll eat.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Wedding paella catering in Arpinge, made fresh on the day
We plan the wedding menu with you, course by course, around your guests, your venue and your budget. Whether it’s evening food for extra guests and relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts, we can cook evening paella, table tapas and canapé tapas.
A wedding in a small place like Arpinge often means a field, a barn or a family garden. That’s exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
The process
On the day, 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. In Arpinge, midsummer sunset is about 9:15pm, and by late September it is nearer 7:00pm, which means evening paella is normally served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 3:50pm.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Why choose live paella in Arpinge?
A buffet can leave food sitting out. Paella is served hot from the pan. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why Arpinge hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Nearby places to Arpinge
Other catering in Arpinge
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Give us separate day and evening numbers
- Tell us when speeches will be
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
- Ask about diets and allergies with your RSVPs
If things run late, and we’ll adapt the timing so it is still served fresh.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available.
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Weddings in Arpinge: venues, ceremonies and travel
Arpinge is about 1 mile south-west of Hawkinge, in Kent. Weddings in Arpinge are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Arpinge is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
If you’re marrying at a church near Arpinge, such as St Oswald's Church, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: we can be cooking during the photos, so it is ready as guests arrive. Historic houses near Arpinge include Acrise Place (2.1 miles north) and Westenhanger Castle (4.4 miles west). If your reception is at a historic house or estate, ask early about its rules on caterers and live cooking. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Arpinge, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules. With the coast within about 3 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
We cater weddings across CT18. For weddings just outside Arpinge, we cover Hawkinge (1 mile north-east), Densole (2 miles north-east), Old Hawkinge (2 miles east), Swingfield Minnis (3 miles north-east) and Elham (3 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (12 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (8 miles east), Deal (14 miles north-east), Hythe (3 miles south-west) and Tower Hamlets (7 miles east).
A little further out are Royal Victoria Hospital (2.2 miles south-east) and Folkestone Castle (1.4 miles south-east). Not far away are Cheriton Hill.
- Local schools include Turner Free School (1.3 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Cat & Custard Pot pub (0.7 miles north)
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A cooking spot outside the marquee, not inside it
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Why choose wedding paella catering in Arpinge?
Paella can work for the wedding breakfast, the evening, or both, so it fits any plan.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Arpinge book us for occasions like:
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Big weddings with every diet
- Evening wedding food
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
Put the station on your invitation: the nearest station is Folkestone West station, about 1.7 miles south-east.
Questions to ask before booking
- Travel and parking costs
- What happens if it rains
- If the price includes VAT
- When payment is due
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many staff you need
- Guest numbers
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
- 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