Kent · England
Live paella catering in Chalk, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Chalk and the surrounding area.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
Live paella catering in Chalk
About our paella catering in Chalk
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. On the menu are black rice, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and we are frequently booked for garden get-togethers and leaving dos and retirements.
Somewhere as small as Chalk, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Who books paella catering in Chalk?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Company summer parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before you book
- Who provides the crockery
- Whether VAT is included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The wet-weather plan
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Count adults and children separately
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Towns and villages near Chalk
Other catering in Chalk
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Planners, venues and businesses
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
What affects the price in Chalk
These are the factors that matter most:
- Your choice of paellas
- Waiting and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The length of service
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the space, if you can
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Chalk questions
Could we have live paella in Shorne Woods Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What’s the nearest station to Chalk for guests?
The closest is Gravesend station, roughly 2 miles away.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Do you cater in Chalk?
We do. Chalk is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Chalk.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Why choose live paella in Chalk?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Drinks service on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Chalk: venues, travel and local tips
Chalk is about 1 mile east of Gravesend, in Kent. Across the DA12 area, we can cook for your guests. Chalk is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. Our nearest city page is London, about 22 miles away.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Shorne Woods Country Park? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Gravesend station, about 2 miles west.
For paella catering in DA12, we plan around your venue and timings. From Chalk Road, Castle Lane and Orlick Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Close by, we cover events in Upper Ifield (1 mile south), Thong (1 mile south), Shorne (1 mile south-east), Shorne Ridgeway (2 miles south-east) and Higham (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (12 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles south-east), Dartford (8 miles west), Sevenoaks (14 miles south-west), Northfleet (3 miles west) and Swanley (10 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Rochester Castle (4.8 miles south-east) and Gravesham Museum (1.9 miles north-west). Not far away are Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
- Local schools include Westcourt Primary School (0.8 miles west) and St John's Catholic Comprehensive (1.1 miles west)
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you’re free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. Planning an evening event in Chalk? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Getting a price
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Chalk, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
- 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