Medway · England
Live paella catering in Lower Rainham, Medway
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Lower Rainham.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Paella catering in Lower Rainham
Where we can cook in Lower Rainham
We’ll be honest if a space will not work. The main points are:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
About our paella catering in Lower Rainham
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. On the menu are vegetable paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and we’re frequently booked for wedding breakfasts and evening food and fairs, fêtes and festivals.
For a rural spot like Lower Rainham, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Why choose paella catering in Lower Rainham?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Lower Rainham, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden get-togethers
- Engagement and anniversary parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Thames View Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Before booking anyone
- How each diet is kept separate
- Travel and parking costs
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The wet-weather plan
How the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Lower Rainham until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote.
Related guides
Lower Rainham: venues, travel and local tips
Lower Rainham is about 2 miles east of Gillingham, in Medway. Wherever your event is in the ME8 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover 68 places in Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Lower Rainham to Canterbury (about 21 miles away).
Historic houses near Lower Rainham include Restoration House (4.7 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Parks such as Berengrave Chalk Pit usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Lower Rainham, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in ME8 is planned around your venue and timings. From West Motney Way, Motney Hill Road and Nuthatch Place or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to Lower Rainham for paella catering include Rainham (1 mile south), Moor Street (1 mile south-east), Upchurch (1 mile east), Meresborough (2 miles south) and Breach (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Chatham (4 miles west), Rochester (5 miles west), Strood (6 miles west), Luton (3 miles west), Lordswood (4 miles south-west) and Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Medway Maritime Hospital (3 miles west) and Upnor Castle (4.2 miles north-west). Not far away are Bishop Saltings.
- Schools near Lower Rainham include Rainham Mark Grammar School (0.8 miles south-west) and Howard School (1.2 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Three Mariners pub (within half a mile north-west)
What paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- How long we are needed on site
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many staff you need
- The number of people
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The date and rough timings
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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.
Working with your venue
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
FAQs for Lower Rainham
Do you come out to small places like Lower Rainham?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Lower Rainham close to London?
Roughly 32 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Are premium seafood options available?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes, that’s what it’s made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Also near Lower Rainham
Also in Lower Rainham
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Confirm allergies by email
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
- 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