Medway · England
Live paella catering in Rochester Riverside, Medway
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Rochester Riverside and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Milestone birthday parties
Paella catering for Rochester Riverside events
What affects the price in Rochester Riverside
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- 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 will quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of the space, if you can
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Rochester Riverside, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Paella catering in Rochester Riverside, cooked live
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will recommend what fits your event. For wedding breakfasts and evening food and naming days and family parties, we can cook seafood paella, black rice and mixed paella and more.
There may be a hall or club near Rochester Riverside if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Rochester Riverside hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- We cover Rochester Riverside and the whole of Medway
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Perfect for your event in Rochester Riverside
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Rochester Riverside book us for occasions like:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Thinking of a picnic-style party in The Paddock? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Questions to ask before you book
- When final numbers are due
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Allergen information for each dish
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Evenings in Rochester Riverside stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us what else is being served
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Questions from Rochester Riverside
Which station should guests use for Rochester Riverside?
Rochester station, in Rochester Riverside itself.
Can you cook in The Paddock?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
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 paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Rochester Riverside: venues, travel and local tips
Rochester Riverside is about 1 mile east of Rochester, in Medway. Whether your event is in the middle of Rochester Riverside or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Rochester Riverside is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Rochester Riverside to Canterbury (about 26 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Rochester station is in Rochester Riverside itself. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Rochester Riverside Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
We cover events in every part of ME1, ME2 and ME3 and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Crow Lane, Love Lane and Corys Road or the roads around them. Other places close to Rochester Riverside for paella catering include Frindsbury (1 mile north), Chatham Waterfront (1 mile south-east), Brompton (1 mile east), Luton (2 miles south-east) and Chatham (3 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gillingham (3 miles south-east), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Park Wood (5 miles south-east), Lordswood (4 miles south-east), Twydall (4 miles east) and Hoo St Werburgh (3 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include French Hospital (under half a mile south-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (0.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
- Schools near Rochester Riverside include Fort Pitt Grammar School (0.7 miles south-east) and St John Fisher RC Comprehensive School (1 mile south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Eagle Tavern (under half a mile south-west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include City of Rochester-upon-Medway (under half a mile north-west) and Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf (0.7 miles east)
Also near Rochester Riverside
Other catering in Rochester Riverside
- 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