Medway · England
Live paella catering in St Mary Hoo, Medway
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in St Mary Hoo.
- Retirement celebrations
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Planning an event in St Mary Hoo?
How our paella catering works in St Mary Hoo
There’s something generous about paella: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. Typical bookings include milestone birthday parties and family celebrations and christenings, with vegan paella, black rice and paella Valenciana.
In a hamlet or village like St Mary Hoo, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
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. In St Mary Hoo, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:00pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
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Your questions about paella catering in St Mary Hoo
How far is St Mary Hoo from London?
About 30 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: 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 generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
How much does paella catering cost in St Mary Hoo?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
What affects the price in St Mary Hoo
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many guests are eating
- Distance and access to the venue
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The venue or postcode
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Count adults and children separately
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Why choose live paella in St Mary Hoo?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats 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 choose Love Paella in St Mary Hoo
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Events in St Mary Hoo and across Medway
- A quote that spells everything out
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Who books paella catering in St Mary Hoo?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
In St Mary Hoo and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Summer garden parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- The deadline for final numbers
- How long the team stays
- The venue requirements
Live paella in St Mary Hoo: local details
St Mary Hoo is in Medway. From the centre of St Mary Hoo to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in 68 places across Medway. We cook right across the region, from St Mary Hoo to Canterbury (24 miles away).
This part of Medway takes in ME3, so your event can be anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater events in Fenn Street (1 mile south-west), High Halstow (1 mile south-west), Sharnal Street (2 miles south-west), Tunbridge Hill (2 miles south) and Kingsnorth (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Gillingham (6 miles south), Chatham (8 miles south), Rochester (6 miles south-west), Rainham (7 miles south), Strood (7 miles south-west) and Luton (7 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Bay Museum (3.6 miles north) and Medway Maritime Hospital (6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Bishop Saltings.
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
- 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