Kent · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Cowden
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Cowden and the surrounding area.
- Food for evening guests
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Rustic barn weddings
Live wedding paella catering in Cowden
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
How our wedding paella catering works in Cowden
A wedding paella is food and entertainment at once. Guests wander over to watch while the photos are taken, and the meal arrives hot and generous. For sharing-style wedding meals and evening wedding food, we will put together a menu of evening paella, canapé tapas and table tapas.
There’s something special about a country wedding near Cowden, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Towns and villages near Cowden
Other catering in Cowden
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- A cooking spot outside the marquee, not inside it
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Sangria & bar staff
- Evening paella
- Table tapas
- Dessert
Cowden weddings: local tips
Cowden is about 5 miles east of East Grinstead, in Kent. For wedding paella catering in Cowden, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Cowden is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Cowden to Brighton (about 24 miles away).
If you’re marrying at a church near Cowden, such as Church of St Mary Magdalene, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: we can be cooking during the photos, so it’s ready as guests arrive. Nearby historic houses include Bassetts Manor (1.7 miles south) and Hammerwood Park (1.7 miles south-west). If your reception is at a historic house or estate, ask early about its rules on caterers and live cooking. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Cowden, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
Wherever your wedding is in TN8, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include High Street, Church Street and Chantlers Mead, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Stick Hill (2 miles north), Hammerwood (2 miles west), Marsh Green (3 miles north-west), Ashurst Wood (4 miles south-west) and Dormansland (4 miles west). Larger places within reach include Sevenoaks (10 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles east), Tonbridge (9 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (13 miles east), Southborough (7 miles east) and Edenbridge (4 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Queen Victoria Hospital (4 miles west) and Bolebroke Castle (1.8 miles south).
- Local pubs include The Crown Inn (within half a mile north-east)
About the dishes
Table tapas
A tapas starter gets tables talking.
Canapé tapas
Canapé tapas fill the gap before the meal, without spoiling appetites.
Cowden questions
Is Cowden too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Cowden from London?
About 26 miles from central London.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
Can you cook indoors?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Is paella smart enough for a wedding?
It can be as relaxed or as polished as you like, depending on presentation and service.
How much does wedding paella catering cost in Cowden?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
How we price wedding paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Guest numbers
- How many courses
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Roughly how many adults and children
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Occasions we cook for in Cowden
Couples choose paella because it feels relaxed and generous, and guests talk about it afterwards.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Barn and farm weddings
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Destination-style celebrations at home
Put the station on your invitation: Cowden station is about 1 mile away.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- When final numbers are due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- When payment is due
Planners, venues and businesses
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Cowden? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
How it 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. In Cowden, midsummer sunset is about 9:20pm, and by late September it’s nearer 7:05pm, so an evening paella for evening guests is typically served in daylight in high summer. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 3:55pm.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm everything with your venue.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Pick a serving style
- Put us in touch with your venue
- Ask about your date as soon as you have one
- Share your running order, including speeches
The pans are frequently set up where guests can see them, which makes a lovely backdrop for photos.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t.
- 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