Kent · England
Wedding paella catering in Upper Hardres, Kent
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food for events in Upper Hardres.
- Weddings with lots of dietary needs
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Marquee and garden weddings
Wedding paella catering near Upper Hardres
How our wedding paella catering works in Upper Hardres
Paella as evening food is popular: hot, filling and served quickly from the pan, so the party keeps going. We’re often asked to cater rustic barn weddings and weddings with mixed diets, serving table tapas, evening paella and Spanish desserts.
There is something special about a country wedding near Upper Hardres, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Towns and villages near Upper Hardres
More for events in Upper Hardres
A closer look at the menu
Evening paella
Fresh pans for evening guests, quick to serve and filling.
Desserts
A sweet finish: churros, crema catalana or your wedding cake.
Weddings in Upper Hardres: venues, ceremonies and travel
Upper Hardres is about 4 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. For wedding paella catering in Upper Hardres, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Upper Hardres. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent.
If you’re marrying at a church near Upper Hardres, such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so the meal is ready when you arrive. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Upper Hardres, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules.
This part of Kent takes in CT4, so your wedding can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Broxhall Road and Hardres Court Road, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Lynsore Bottom (1 mile south-east), Pett Bottom (1 mile north-east), Lower Hardres (1 mile north), Petham (2 miles west) and Street End (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (4 miles north), Dover (11 miles south-east), Folkestone (10 miles south), Whitstable (10 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Canterbury Castle (4.1 miles north) and Kent and Canterbury Hospital (3.5 miles north).
- Local pubs include The Duck pub (0.9 miles north-east)
FAQs for Upper Hardres
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Peter and St Paul: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Upper Hardres too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: 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 do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
What about pudding?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Can we try the food first?
Ask us about tastings when you get in touch.
Can you do our whole wedding menu?
Yes. Canapé tapas, table tapas, a paella wedding breakfast, evening food and desserts, or any part of that.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
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. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Catering across Kent, including Upper Hardres
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Include any suppliers you are feeding
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
After service, we pack down our cooking area; staff you’ve booked stay as agreed.
We can provide crockery and waiting staff if your venue doesn’t.
Why choose wedding paella catering in Upper Hardres?
Mixed diets are easy, which matters with a big guest list.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Weddings with mixed diets
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Parties after a register office wedding
- Barn and farm weddings
For guests travelling by train, the nearest station is Bekesbourne station, about 3.9 miles north-east.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if it rains
- The deadline for final numbers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How each diet is kept separate
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Evening paella
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
The process
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. At midsummer, sunset in Upper Hardres is about 9:15pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:45pm, and in late September about 7:00pm.
- We check availability for your date.
- You choose canapés, tapas, paellas and desserts.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your wedding, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
How we price wedding paella catering
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
- Parking and unloading
- How long we are needed on site
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
- 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