Medway · England
Festival & event paella in Chatham Waterfront, Medway
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events makes the food a highlight of your event in Chatham Waterfront.
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- Sports club events
- Country shows
Festival paella catering near Chatham Waterfront
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Festival paella catering in Chatham Waterfront, made fresh on the day
The pans are part of the attraction. Visitors stop to watch, take photos and come back for lunch. We are often asked to cater seasonal markets and agricultural and county shows, with giant-pan paella, seafood paella and churros.
In Chatham Waterfront, one trader covering most diets keeps it simple. A paella stall does that. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
A closer look at the menu
Giant paella pans
Huge pans of golden rice, cooking in full view.
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is a festival favourite.
Running an event in Chatham Waterfront
Chatham Waterfront is about 1 mile east of Rochester, in Medway. Whether your event is in the middle of Chatham Waterfront or on the outskirts, festival paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover all 68 towns and villages across Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Chatham Waterfront to Canterbury (25 miles away).
Running a fête for a church like Church of St John the Divine? A paella pan draws people in. If you’re organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Brompton-Westbrook Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Here we cover the ME4, ME1 and ME7 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Whether your event is on New Road, Old Road and Ship Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Chatham Waterfront sits on or near the A231, which makes travel to your event easy. Other places close to Chatham Waterfront for festival paella catering include Brompton (1 mile north-east), Rochester Riverside (1 mile north-west), Luton (1 mile south-east), Frindsbury (1 mile north-west) and Chatham (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Rainham (4 miles south-east), Park Wood (4 miles south-east), Lordswood (3 miles south), Twydall (3 miles east), Hoo St Werburgh (3 miles north-east) and Wigmore (4 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Pentagon Shopping Centre (within half a mile south-east) and Six Poor Travellers House (0.9 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Gad's Hill and Ranscombe Farm.
- Schools near Chatham Waterfront include Fort Pitt Grammar School (0.5 miles south-west) and St John Fisher RC Comprehensive School (0.5 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include King's Arms (under half a mile west)
- Local facilities include Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf (within half a mile north) and City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1.2 miles north-west)
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evening events in Chatham Waterfront have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- It starts with your event details and pitch information.
- We confirm our menu, pitch needs and documents.
- On the day, we arrive and set up our pitch.
- Pans cook in full view and we serve throughout the event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
Before we arrive
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Put all trader information in one pack
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
Our pitch is kept tidy and safe throughout the day.
Crew, volunteer and VIP catering.
For event organisers in Chatham Waterfront
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want a trader that adds atmosphere, paella is a strong choice. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Drinks service on request
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Nearby places to Chatham Waterfront
More for events in Chatham Waterfront
Chatham Waterfront questions
Do you trade at school fairs around Chatham Waterfront?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
What’s the nearest station to Chatham Waterfront for guests?
Chatham station, in Chatham Waterfront itself.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Can you trade at our festival or fair?
Tell us about your event, and we’ll confirm availability and requirements.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
What documents can you send?
Tell us what the event needs and we will send it with our application.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Chatham Waterfront.
Occasions we cook for in Chatham Waterfront
It adds theatre to a food line-up.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Chatham Waterfront and Medway:
- Food and music festivals
- Summer fairs and fêtes
- Race days and sports events
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
Events in parks such as The Paddock need permission from the council or landowner, and we’ll send any documents they ask for.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
- How each diet is kept separate
- 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