Medway · England
Paella Catering for Chatham events
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Chatham and Medway, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Company summer parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
Planning an event in Chatham?
For event organisers in Chatham
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Paella catering for your event in Chatham
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Chatham. We’re often asked to cater staff parties and work lunches and birthday celebrations, with vegetable paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
Events in Chatham range from garden parties to office lunches. If the venue is in the centre, tell us how we can unload. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Perfect for your event in Chatham
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Chatham and Medway:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
For guests coming by train, Chatham station is about 1.7 miles away.
Before you book anyone
- How late numbers can change
- Who provides the crockery
- Payment terms and deposit
- A clear list of what’s included
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Ensure each pan is labelled
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
Other catering in Chatham
Chatham questions
Which station should guests use for Chatham?
The closest is Chatham station, roughly 1.7 miles away.
Is Chatham close to London?
Roughly 29 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
What happens on the day
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. In Chatham, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Chatham, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Chatham
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Fast service from the pan
- We cover Chatham and the whole of Medway
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Live paella in Chatham: local details
Chatham is about 29 miles east of London, in Medway. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Chatham and nearby villages. Chatham is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Chatham to Canterbury (24 miles away).
Parks such as Darland Banks generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Historic houses near Chatham include Restoration House (2.4 miles north-west) and Temple Manor (2.9 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Chatham is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in ME5, ME4, ME7 and ME1, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on Luton High Street, Market Place and High Street. With the A2 and A229 close by, Chatham is easy for us to reach. Other places close to Chatham for paella catering include Luton (1 mile north), Hale (1 mile north-east), Darland (1 mile east), Capstone (1 mile east) and Walderslade (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Rochester (3 miles north-west), Rainham (3 miles east), Strood (3 miles north-west), Park Wood (3 miles east), Twydall (3 miles north-east) and Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north). As one of the bigger places in Medway, Chatham has lots of places to hold an event.
Well-known places in the area include Medway Maritime Hospital (1.7 miles north) and Six Poor Travellers House (2.5 miles north-west). Open spaces near Chatham include Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
- Nearby schools include Walderslade Girls' School (less than half a mile south-west) and Walderslade Girls' School (under half a mile south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Huntsman pub (0.9 miles north-west)
- Local facilities include Chatham Free Library (1.6 miles north) and City of Rochester-upon-Medway (2.9 miles north-west)
- 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