Medway · England
Live paella catering in Sharnal Street, Medway
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Sharnal Street. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Live paella catering in Sharnal Street
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Confirm allergies by email
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Paella catering for your event in Sharnal Street
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. On the menu are black rice, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for festivals, fairs and school events and retirement celebrations.
In a hamlet or village like Sharnal Street, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Sharnal Street: venues, travel and local tips
Sharnal Street is about 5 miles north of Gillingham, in Medway. For paella catering in Sharnal Street, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Sharnal Street is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Sharnal Street to Canterbury (about 24 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Restoration House (4.9 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like High Halstow Primary Academy, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
This part of Medway takes in ME3, so your event can be anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Fenn Street (1 mile north-east), High Halstow (1 mile north-west), Tunbridge Hill (1 mile south-east), Kingsnorth (1 mile south-east) and Hoo St Werburgh (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Gillingham (5 miles south), Chatham (6 miles south), Rochester (5 miles south-west), Rainham (6 miles south), Strood (5 miles south-west) and Luton (5 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Upnor Castle (3.2 miles south-west) and Medway Maritime Hospital (4.5 miles south). Not far away are Bishop Saltings.
- Nearby schools include The Hundred of Hoo Academy (1.8 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Red Dog Public House (0.9 miles north-west)
Perfect for your event in Sharnal Street
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Sharnal Street, people book us for events such as:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Gillingham (Kent) station, about 3.9 miles south.
What your quote should include
- The wet-weather plan
- The deposit and payment dates
- Who provides the crockery
- The venue requirements
Sharnal Street questions
Is Sharnal Street too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Margaret: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How does live paella catering work?
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.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Sharnal Street hosts choose us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
The process
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 Sharnal Street stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You share 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.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Towns and villages near Sharnal Street
Also in Sharnal Street
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
- 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