Medway · England
Live paella catering in Rainham, Medway
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Rainham and the surrounding area.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering for Rainham events
What affects the price in Rainham
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Travel, parking and access
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
About our paella catering in Rainham
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That’s exactly what we bring to your event in Rainham. We are often asked to cater big birthdays and leaving dos and retirements, with chicken and chorizo paella, paella Valenciana and black rice.
In Rainham, live paella generally means a garden, a hall with outdoor space or a hired venue. All of them work, as long as there’s a level spot to cook and somewhere close to park. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you. What matters most:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
Questions from Rainham
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Margaret: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Could we have live paella in Foxburrow Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you provide dessert?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Why choose paella catering in Rainham?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Rainham and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Anniversary celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Foxburrow Wood? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Comparing caterers
- What happens if it rains
- The venue requirements
- Staff numbers and hours
- When final numbers are due
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Rainham? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell typically draws people over. Around midsummer it stays light in Rainham until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
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Towns and villages near Rainham
Also in Rainham
Catering an event in Rainham
Rainham is about 2 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Medway. Tell us where your event in Rainham will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Rainham is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway we cover. We cook right across the region, from Rainham to Canterbury (about 21 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Margaret, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Rainham (Kent) station, about 0.5 miles north. Rainham is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Anywhere in ME8 and ME9, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Durham Road, London Road and Bloors Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Rainham, we also cover Meresborough (1 mile south), Moor Street (1 mile east), Lower Rainham (1 mile north), Hartlip (2 miles south-east) and Lower Hartlip (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Chatham (3 miles west), Rochester (5 miles north-west), Strood (6 miles west), Luton (3 miles west), Lordswood (3 miles south-west) and Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north-west). Being one of Medway’s larger places, Rainham has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
A little further out are Medway Maritime Hospital (3.2 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (3.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Rainham include Detling Hill and Bishop Saltings.
- Local schools include Howard School (0.7 miles west) and Howard School (0.7 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find The Railway pub (0.5 miles north)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why us?
- We cover Rainham and the whole of Medway
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- 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