Medway · England
Live paella catering in Scarborough, Medway
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Scarborough.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering for Scarborough events
About our paella catering in Scarborough
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately. On the menu are vegan paella, seafood paella and black rice, and we are regularly asked to cater company summer parties and leaving dos and retirements.
Somewhere as small as Scarborough, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We plan the timings around your day, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Organising a club, school or community event in Scarborough? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Scarborough
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Send allergies to us in writing
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
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.
Towns and villages near Scarborough
Other catering in Scarborough
Paella compared with other options
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Events in Scarborough and across Medway
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Fast service from the pan
See Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Paella catering around Scarborough
Scarborough is about 3 miles south-west of Chatham, in Medway. For paella catering in Scarborough, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Scarborough. Scarborough is one of 68 places in Medway where we cook. Our events stretch from Scarborough to London (about 27 miles away).
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Mary's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Snodland station, about 1.1 miles south-west.
For paella catering in ME1, we plan around your venue and your guests. Local streets include Pilgrims Way and Scarborough Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Scarborough for paella catering include Peters Village (1 mile west), Burham (1 mile south-east), Wouldham (1 mile north-west), Holborough (1 mile west) and Halling (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gillingham (5 miles north-east), Chatham (3 miles north-east), Rochester (4 miles north), Rainham (6 miles east), Strood (4 miles north) and Luton (4 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Pentagon Shopping Centre (3.8 miles north-east) and St. Catherine's Hospital (3.4 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
- Local schools include The Holmesdale School (1.8 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Windmill pub (0.6 miles south-east)
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many courses
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Where the event is
- Expected numbers
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
How the day works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Around midsummer it stays light in Scarborough until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is 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
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Scarborough questions
Is Scarborough close to London?
Roughly 27 miles from the centre of London.
Which station should guests use for Scarborough?
Snodland station, about 1.1 miles south-west of the centre.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
- 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