Kent · England
Wedding paella catering in West Hougham, Kent
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in West Hougham: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests.
- Receptions after an intimate ceremony
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
- Farm and barn venues
Wedding paella catering near West Hougham
How our wedding paella catering works in West Hougham
Paella as evening food is popular: it is hot, filling and quick to serve, so evening guests are fed and the dancing carries on. We cook evening paella, table tapas and a paella wedding breakfast, and we are often booked for barn and farm weddings and vow renewals and civil ceremonies.
A wedding in a small place like West Hougham frequently means a field, a barn or a family garden. Live paella is made for that: no kitchen needed, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Tell us when speeches will be
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
- Let us know about meals for your band or photographer
If speeches or photos run over, tell us, and we will adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh.
Table tapas make a sociable starter.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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 will do the cooking.
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 at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
FAQs for West Hougham
What’s the nearest station to West Hougham for guests?
The closest is Kearsney station, roughly 2.7 miles away.
Can you cook near the sea around West Hougham?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
What’s in the pans
Table tapas
A tapas starter gets tables talking.
Desserts
Spanish desserts from churros to crema catalana, or your cake as dessert.
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- A separate open-sided gazebo if the meal is in a marquee
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Evening paella
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
- Dessert
- Sangria & bar staff
What wedding paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Planning a paella wedding in West Hougham
West Hougham is about 3 miles south-west of Dover, in Kent. For wedding paella catering in West Hougham, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. West Hougham is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from West Hougham to Canterbury (13 miles away).
If you are marrying at a church near West Hougham, such as St Mary'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’s ready as guests arrive. For outdoor photos, Dover Western Heights is close by. With the Kent Downs National Landscape within about 7 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules. The sea is within about 4 miles, perfect for a seafood paella wedding. We’ll plan shelter from sea breezes.
We cater weddings across CT15. That could mean a wedding in a garden on The Street, Lady Garne Road and Mill Lane. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Satmar (1 mile south-west), Church Hougham (1 mile east), South Alkham (1 mile north-west), Capel-le-Ferne (1 mile south-west) and Alkham (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles north-east), Folkestone (4 miles south-west), Deal (10 miles north-east), Hythe (7 miles south-west) and Tower Hamlets (3 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Crabble Corn Mill (2.7 miles north-east) and Buckland Hospital (2.7 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights and Sugar Loaf Hill.
- Schools near West Hougham include Astor College for the Arts (2.4 miles east)
Why choose live paella in West Hougham?
Hog roasts are popular but tricky for mixed diets. Paella covers them with separate pans. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Served hot, straight from the pan
See How we price And The cost guide.
Nearby places to West Hougham
Also in West Hougham
The process
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. In West Hougham, 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. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- Send us your wedding date, venue and numbers.
- Together we plan each course.
- We agree timings with you and your venue.
- On the day, we cook and serve each course.
- We pack down, and staff stay as agreed.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Related guides
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
- 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