Medway · England
Paella Catering in Hempstead
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hempstead: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella catering in Hempstead
Common questions in Hempstead
We are having a ceremony at All Saints Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Could we have live paella in South Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
About our paella catering in Hempstead
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it is ready, it’s served straight from the pan. Typical bookings include leaving dos and retirements and engagement and anniversary parties, with paella Valenciana, mixed paella and vegetable paella.
Around Hempstead, events are often in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If access is tight, we will plan around it. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s normally the most photographed pan.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Who books paella catering in Hempstead?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
In Hempstead and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Company summer parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Historic houses near Hempstead include Restoration House (3.8 miles north-west) and Temple Manor (4.5 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- The wet-weather plan
- The deposit and payment dates
- What the price includes, item by item
- VAT, if it applies
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Whether you need crockery
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- What the venue already provides
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
- Roughly how many adults and children
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Hempstead: venues, travel and local tips
Hempstead is about 2 miles south of Gillingham, in Medway. For an event in Hempstead, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Hempstead is one of 68 places in Medway where we cook. Our events stretch from Hempstead to Canterbury (about 23 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Rainham (Kent) station, about 2.1 miles north-east. Parks such as South Wood typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Hempstead, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of ME7 and ME8. From Harrow Road, Spekes Road and Capstone Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Hempstead sits on or near the A278, which makes travel to your event easy. We also cook at events in Capstone (1 mile north-west), Darland (1 mile north-west), Wigmore (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north-west) and Park Wood (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Rochester (4 miles north-west), Strood (5 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north), Chatham Waterfront (3 miles north-west), Rochester Riverside (4 miles north-west) and Peters Village (5 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Pentagon Shopping Centre (3 miles north-west) and Medway megaliths (3.8 miles south-west). The countryside around Hempstead includes Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Nearby schools include Rainham School for Girls (1.3 miles north-east) and Howard School (1.3 miles north-east)
How the day works
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it is served at its best. In Hempstead, the sun sets at about 9:15pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
What else we do in Hempstead
For event organisers in Hempstead
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Hempstead? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Put allergy details in writing
- Mention any other courses or food
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Is live paella right for your event?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Hempstead. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Hempstead
- Catering across Medway, including Hempstead
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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