Medway · England
Paella Catering for Chattenden events
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Chattenden.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Live paella catering in Chattenden
Paella catering in Chattenden, cooked live
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. We cook mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for weddings, from canapés to evening food and garden get-togethers.
Somewhere like Chattenden, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Chattenden until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Before we arrive
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Common questions in Chattenden
What’s the nearest station to Chattenden for guests?
Strood station, about 2.1 miles south-west of the centre.
Is Chattenden close to London?
About 28 miles from central London.
How many different paellas?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you provide dessert?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Live paella or other catering?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Chattenden
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Catering across Medway, including Chattenden
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Where we can cook in Chattenden
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
For event organisers in Chattenden
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Live paella in Chattenden: local details
Chattenden is about 2 miles north-east of Rochester, in Medway. Across the ME3 area, we can bring the pans to you. Chattenden is one of 68 places in Medway where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 26 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Strood station, about 2.1 miles south-west. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Bishop Gundulph Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Wherever your event is in ME3, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on Songbird Crescent, Sparrow Drive and Main Road. Other places close to Chattenden for paella catering include Lower Upnor (1 mile south), Upper Upnor (1 mile south), Wainscott (1 mile south-west), Hoo St Werburgh (1 mile east) and Cooling Street (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (4 miles south-east), Chatham (4 miles south), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Strood (3 miles south-west), Luton (3 miles south) and Park Wood (6 miles south-east).
A little further out are City of Rochester-upon-Medway (2.3 miles south-west) and Huguenot Museum (2.4 miles south-west). The countryside around Chattenden includes Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
- Nearby schools include The Hundred of Hoo Academy (0.8 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Pier pub (0.5 miles south)
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Nearby places to Chattenden
Also in Chattenden
What paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many guests are eating
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Who books paella catering in Chattenden?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Leaving dos and retirements
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chattenden Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What your quote should include
- A clear list of what’s included
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Allergen information for each dish
- When final numbers are due
- 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