Medway · England
Paella Catering in High Halstow
Looking for paella catering in High Halstow? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Big birthdays
- Naming days and family parties
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering near High Halstow
About our paella catering in High Halstow
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Popular choices include vegetable paella, paella Valenciana and mixed paella, and typical bookings are for weddings and evening receptions and anniversary celebrations.
Somewhere like High Halstow, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. In High Halstow, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening events are typically 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 the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
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Catering an event in High Halstow
High Halstow is in Medway. For paella catering in High Halstow, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. High Halstow is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 25 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Gillingham (Kent) station is about 4.4 miles away. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Margaret, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
We cover events in every part of the ME3 postcode area and the streets around it. We can cater an event on streets such as The Street, Drayton Close and Valentine Drive. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Sharnal Street (1 mile south-east), Fenn Street (1 mile east), St Mary Hoo (1 mile north-east), Tunbridge Hill (2 miles south-east) and Cooling (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Gillingham (5 miles south), Chatham (7 miles south), Rochester (5 miles south-west), Rainham (7 miles south), Strood (5 miles south-west) and Luton (6 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Upnor Castle (3.5 miles south-west) and Medway Maritime Hospital (5 miles south). Open spaces near High Halstow include Bishop Saltings.
- Schools near High Halstow include The Hundred of Hoo Academy (2.1 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Dog Public House (under half a mile south-west)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. 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.
Why us?
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Mention any other courses or food
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Give us separate numbers for children
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
High Halstow questions
What’s the nearest station to High Halstow for guests?
The closest is Gillingham (Kent) station, roughly 4.4 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Margaret?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Does paella work for big events?
It’s ideal. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
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.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
What is live paella catering?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in High Halstow
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
Occasions we cook for in High Halstow
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
These are some of the occasions we cater in High Halstow and Medway:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as High Halstow Primary Academy, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether VAT is included
- What happens if it rains
- Travel and parking costs
- Allergen information for each dish
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s frequently the first pan to empty.
What paella catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Also near High Halstow
More for events in High Halstow
- 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