Kent · England
Wedding paella catering in Grove, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food for events in Grove and across Kent.
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
Wedding paella catering for Grove events
Getting married in Grove?
Grove is about 5 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. For a wedding in Grove, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cook in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Grove to Canterbury (6 miles away).
For guests travelling by train, the nearest station is Sturry station, about 3.8 miles west. If you’re marrying at a church near Grove, such as Church of St Mildred, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive. The sea is within about 6 miles, perfect for a seafood paella wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
Anywhere in CT3, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Preston (1 mile south-east), Upstreet (1 mile north), West Stourmouth (1 mile north-east), East Stourmouth (2 miles east) and Sarre (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (6 miles west), Margate (9 miles north-east), Dover (13 miles south), Ramsgate (9 miles east), Broadstairs (10 miles east) and Whitstable (8 miles west).
A little further out are St Martins Hospital (4.9 miles south-west).
- Local pubs include The Grove Ferry Inn (0.9 miles north)
About our wedding paella catering in Grove
Sharing from big pans suits relaxed weddings, especially with long tables and outdoor venues. It feels generous and celebratory. We are often asked to cater barn and farm weddings and weddings with lots of dietary needs, with a paella wedding breakfast, evening paella and Spanish desserts.
Rural weddings around Grove have a magic of their own, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Dishes our guests love
Desserts
Spanish desserts from churros to crema catalana.
Canapé tapas
One- and two-bite tapas on boards, ideal for the drinks reception.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Connect us with your coordinator
- Tell us when speeches will be
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
- Choose pan-side or table service
Guests can queue at the pans, or staff can serve the tables.
Canapés during the photos keep hunger at bay.
FAQs for Grove
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mildred: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which station should guests use for Grove?
The closest is Sturry station, roughly 3.8 miles away.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How much paella per person?
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.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
What if the timings change?
We plan for it. We time the rice to the actual running order, so it’s served at its best.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Occasions we cook for in Grove
Sharing food gets tables chatting.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Grove, people book us for occasions like:
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
- Big weddings with every diet
- Sharing-style wedding meals
- Barn and farm weddings
Historic houses near Grove include Goodnestone Park (4.7 miles south). If your reception is at a historic house or estate, ask early about its rules on caterers and live cooking.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens if it rains
- Who provides the crockery
- If the price includes VAT
- When payment is due
The process
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests typically gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. For a summer wedding in Grove, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, which means evening paella is usually served in daylight in June and July. For autumn and winter weddings, when it is dark by about 3:50pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- First, we check your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- Guests watch the paella cook during the reception.
- We serve, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Planners, venues and businesses
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Grove? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Towns and villages near Grove
Other catering in Grove
Is live paella right for your wedding?
Compared with formal catering, live paella is relaxed and sociable, but with canapés, table tapas and good crockery, it still feels special. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Catering across Kent, including Grove
Take a look at Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A separate open-sided gazebo if the meal is in a marquee
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Evening paella
- Canapé tapas
- 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