Medway · England
Paella Catering in Capstone
Looking for paella catering in Capstone? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
Paella catering for Capstone events
Paella catering in Capstone, cooked live
Paella is generous food: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. We cook vegan paella, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella, and we’re frequently booked for community events and fairs and engagement and anniversary parties.
In a small place like Capstone, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
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 will follow them.
More for events in Capstone
Where we can cook in Capstone
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
FAQs for Capstone
What’s the nearest station to Capstone for guests?
Gillingham (Kent) station, about 2 miles north of the centre.
Could we have live paella in Darland Banks?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Are premium seafood options available?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Is paella enough as a main?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Capstone: venues, travel and local tips
Capstone is about 1 mile south-west of Gillingham, in Medway. Across the ME7 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover 68 places in Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 23 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Gillingham (Kent) station is about 2 miles away. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like All Saints Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Capstone. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the ME7 postcode area. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Darland (1 mile north), Hale (1 mile north-west), Hempstead (1 mile south-east), Gillingham (1 mile north-east) and Chatham (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Rochester (4 miles north-west), Strood (4 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west), Peters Village (4 miles west) and Brompton (3 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Medway Maritime Hospital (1.7 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (2.3 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
- Local schools include Chatham Grammar School for Girls (1.2 miles north-west) and The Robert Napier School (1.4 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The Star pub (1 mile north)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Chatham Free Library (1.9 miles north-west)
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you are free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. Around midsummer it stays light in Capstone until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
How we price paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- The number of people
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- What the venue already provides
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Who books paella catering in Capstone?
There’s no kitchen needed, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Big birthdays
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversary celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Restoration House (3.1 miles north-west) and Temple Manor (3.8 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Before booking anyone
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Space, access and power needs
- Allergen information for each dish
Live paella or other catering?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What you get with us
- Drinks service on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- A quote that spells everything out
- We cover Capstone and the whole of Medway
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
- 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