Kent · England
Paella Catering for Chartham events
Planning paella catering in Chartham? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
Paella catering for Chartham events
How our paella catering works in Chartham
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and we are regularly asked to cater birthday celebrations and engagement and anniversary parties.
For a rural spot like Chartham, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Why choose live paella in Chartham?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Chartham
- A clear, itemised quote
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Before you choose a spot
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
Perfect for your event in Chartham
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Naming days and family parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Thinking of a picnic-style party in No Man's Orchard? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether travel is included
- What happens if it rains
- How long the team stays
- Whether VAT is included
Step by step
Here’s how the day typically runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Chartham until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Live paella in Chartham: local details
Chartham is about 3 miles south-west of Canterbury, in Kent. From the centre of Chartham to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Chartham Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Chartham, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in CT4, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Station Road, River Court and The Green or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Shalmsford Street (1 mile south), Mystole (1 mile south-west), Chartham Hatch (1 mile north), Garlinge Green (2 miles south) and Thanington (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (10 miles south-west), Canterbury (3 miles north-east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles north-west), Folkestone (14 miles south-east) and Whitstable (7 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Chilham Castle (2.7 miles west) and Whitefriars Shopping Centre (3.1 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Pubs nearby include The Artichoke Inn (within half a mile south-east)
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Chartham? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Chartham questions
Do you come out to small places like Chartham?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How far is Chartham from London?
About 51 miles from central London.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Is paella enough as a main?
It is a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many courses
- Parking and unloading
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Towns and villages near Chartham
Also in Chartham
- 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