Kent · England
Paella Catering in Hartlip
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Hartlip and across Kent.
- Big birthdays
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering in Hartlip
Your questions about paella catering in Hartlip
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Hartlip for guests?
Newington station, about 1.3 miles east of the centre.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Do you cater in Hartlip?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Hartlip. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
About our paella catering in Hartlip
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. On the menu are black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella, and typical bookings are for milestone birthday parties and leaving dos and retirements.
Somewhere as small as Hartlip, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Where we can cook in Hartlip
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Hartlip
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
Catering an event in Hartlip
Hartlip is about 3 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Kent. For an event in Hartlip, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cater in 922 places across Kent. Our events stretch from Hartlip to Canterbury (about 20 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Michael, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Newington station, about 1.3 miles east. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Hartlip, 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.
We cover events in every part of ME9 and the streets around it. Streets in the area include The Street, Dane Close and Place Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Hartlip for paella catering include Lower Hartlip (1 mile east), Moor Street (1 mile north-west), Breach (1 mile north-east), Meresborough (1 mile west) and Newington (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (7 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (4 miles east), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Faversham (11 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (9 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Bayford Court (4.5 miles east) and Medway Maritime Hospital (4.8 miles north-west). Not far away are Detling Hill and Bishop Saltings.
- Local schools include Leigh Academy Rainham (1.3 miles north-west)
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Hartlip? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
What paella catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- How many guests are eating
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It is usually the most photographed pan.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. In Hartlip, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- 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.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Hartlip? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
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Perfect for your event in Hartlip
There is no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
Parks such as Foxburrow Wood usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Before you book anyone
- When final numbers are due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Places near Hartlip
Also in Hartlip
- 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