Kent · England
Wedding paella catering in Hartley, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your wedding in Hartley. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Big weddings with every diet
Wedding paella catering for Hartley events
How our wedding paella catering works in Hartley
A paella wedding makes mixed diets simple: every paella is cooked separately, so every guest gets a proper hot main. For evening wedding food and weddings in a marquee or garden, we can cook evening paella, table tapas and a paella wedding breakfast and more.
A wedding in a small place like Hartley frequently means a field, a barn or a family garden. That’s exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen, just a level, sheltered spot. Tell us about lanes, gates and ground conditions. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Occasions we cook for in Hartley
Paella can work for the wedding breakfast, the evening, or both, so it fits any plan.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Big weddings with every diet
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
Planning photos in Crane Valley? It’s worth checking the park’s rules first.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether travel is included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- If the price includes VAT
- What happens if it rains
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. In Hartley, midsummer sunset is about 9:15pm, and by late September it’s nearer 7:00pm, which means evening paella is usually served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it’s dark by about 3:55pm.
- We check availability for your date.
- You choose canapés, tapas, paellas and desserts.
- We confirm everything with your venue.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What affects the price in Hartley
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Parking and unloading
- How many staff you need
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your wedding, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The courses you’d like
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
- The date and rough timings
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
Common questions in Hartley
Could we have live paella in Crane Valley?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
How far is Hartley from London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you cater in Hartley?
We do. We cook at events in Hartley and across Kent. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you work with our venue?
Yes, and it saves you passing messages. Put us in touch and we’ll agree the details.
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Hartley
Hartley is about 8 miles south-east of Paddock Wood, in Kent. For wedding paella catering in Hartley, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Hartley is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 28 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Scotney 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 High Weald National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Hartley, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
This part of Kent takes in TN17, and we can cater your wedding anywhere in it. From Hartley Road, Campion Crescent and Hartley Court Gardens or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Swattenden (1 mile east), Cranbrook (1 mile north-east), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-east), Gill's Green (2 miles south) and Beal's Green (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles west), Tonbridge (13 miles north-west), Kings Hill (14 miles north), Foley Park (14 miles north) and Paddock Wood (8 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Benenden Hospital (4.7 miles east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.8 miles north-east).
About the dishes
Table tapas
Tapas set out on every table to share, from bravas to croquetas and Manchego.
Evening paella
Evening paella is hot, filling and fun.
Paella compared with other options
A hog roast is popular at weddings, but harder for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests. Paella covers them with separate pans. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A clear, itemised quote
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- We cover Hartley and the whole of Kent
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Nearby places to Hartley
Other catering in Hartley
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Count day and evening guests separately
- Pick a serving style
- Include any suppliers you’re feeding
- Ask about diets and allergies with your RSVPs
We clear our cooking area away afterwards; any staff stay as long as agreed.
Canapés during the photos keep hunger at bay.
- 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