Kent · England
Paella Catering for Gravesend events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Gravesend and the surrounding area.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Birthday celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
Paella catering near Gravesend
Paella catering for your event in Gravesend
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Every pan is cooked on its own, so diets are easy to manage. We are frequently asked to cater festivals, fairs and school events and office lunches and staff parties, serving seafood paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella.
In Gravesend, live paella normally means a garden, a hall with outdoor space or a hired venue. Each works well, as long as there is a level spot to cook and somewhere close to park. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The date and rough timings
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Gravesend
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Why choose live paella in Gravesend?
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A clear, itemised quote
Read How we price And The cost guide.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Planning an evening event in Gravesend? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Give us a contact for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Catering an event in Gravesend
Gravesend is about 9 miles north-west of Gillingham, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Gravesend, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Gravesend is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Gravesend to London (about 21 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Gravesend station, about 0.9 miles north-west. Historic houses near Gravesend include Cobham College (2.9 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
This part of Kent takes in DA12 and DA11. We can cater an event on streets such as Christ Church Road, Hillside Drive and Laurel Avenue or the roads around them. You will find Gravesend on the A2 and A226, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Other places close to Gravesend for paella catering include Windmill Hill (1 mile north-west), Milton-next-Gravesend (1 mile north-east), Denton (1 mile east), Singlewell or Ifield (1 mile south) and Northfleet (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (13 miles south-east), Dartford (7 miles west), Sevenoaks (13 miles south-west), Swanley (9 miles west), Kings Hill (11 miles south) and Foley Park (12 miles south-east).
A little further out are Gravesham Museum (0.9 miles north-west) and Stone Castle (4.5 miles west). Not far away are Sawyers Lake and Gad's Hill.
- Schools near Gravesend include St John's Catholic Comprehensive (within half a mile north-east) and St John's Catholic Comprehensive (less than half a mile north-east)
- Local pubs include The Waterloo Public House (0.6 miles north-west)
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Confirm allergies by email
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Common questions in Gravesend
Which station should guests use for Gravesend?
The closest is Gravesend station, roughly 0.9 miles away.
Can you cook in Northfleet Urban Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Is paella enough as a main?
It’s a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Nearby places to Gravesend
What else we do in Gravesend
- 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