Medway · England
Paella Catering for Tunbridge Hill events
Planning paella catering in Tunbridge Hill? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Staff parties and work lunches
Book paella catering in Tunbridge Hill
About our paella catering in Tunbridge Hill
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, black rice and seafood paella, and we are regularly asked to cater engagement and anniversary parties and weddings, from canapés to evening food.
In a hamlet or village like Tunbridge Hill, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Also near Tunbridge Hill
Also in Tunbridge Hill
Planning live paella in Tunbridge Hill
Tunbridge Hill is about 5 miles north of Gillingham, in Medway. Give us the address of your event in Tunbridge Hill, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cook in 68 places across Medway. Our events stretch from Tunbridge Hill to Canterbury (24 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Gillingham (Kent) station is about 3.9 miles away.
This part of Medway takes in ME3. If your venue is just outside Tunbridge Hill, we also cover Kingsnorth (1 mile south), Fenn Street (1 mile north-west), Sharnal Street (1 mile north-west), St Mary Hoo (2 miles north) and High Halstow (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (5 miles south), Chatham (6 miles south-west), Rochester (5 miles south-west), Rainham (5 miles south), Strood (6 miles south-west) and Luton (5 miles south-west).
A little further out are Medway Maritime Hospital (4.5 miles south-west) and Upnor Castle (3.6 miles south-west). Open spaces near Tunbridge Hill include Bishop Saltings.
What affects the price in Tunbridge Hill
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many courses
- The paellas you choose
- The length of service
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and time of the event
- What the venue already provides
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Tunbridge Hill, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Organising for someone else?
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Why choose live paella in Tunbridge Hill?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Catering across Medway, including Tunbridge Hill
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. Around midsummer it stays light in Tunbridge Hill until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, 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.
- 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.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Tunbridge Hill questions
Is Tunbridge Hill too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Tunbridge Hill close to London?
Roughly 30 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you come to Tunbridge Hill?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Tunbridge Hill and across Medway. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Can you cook indoors?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Can we choose the seafood?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Who books paella catering in Tunbridge Hill?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
- Naming days and family parties
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like The Hundred of Hoo Academy, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Questions to ask before you book
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- 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