Medway · England
Live paella catering in Wallend, Medway
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Wallend: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Company summer parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Live paella catering in Wallend
About our paella catering in Wallend
Paella is generous food: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. We’re often asked to cater summer garden parties and milestone birthday parties, serving black rice, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
In a rural place like Wallend, the setting does a lot of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
The process
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Evenings in Wallend stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in Wallend? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Catering an event in Wallend
Wallend is about 5 miles north-west of Minster, in Medway. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Wallend and nearby villages. Wallend is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway where we cook. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St James, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Sheerness-On-Sea station, about 2.6 miles east.
This part of Medway takes in ME3. With the B2001 close by, Wallend is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. If your venue is just outside Wallend, we also cover Grain (1 mile east), Blue Town (2 miles east), Sheerness (3 miles east), Queenborough (3 miles south-east) and Rushenden (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (8 miles south-west), Chatham (10 miles south-west), Rochester (10 miles south-west), Rainham (8 miles south-west), Strood (10 miles south-west) and Luton (9 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Bluetown Heritage Centre (2.3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Bishop Saltings.
- Pubs nearby include The Hogarth Inn (0.6 miles north-east)
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Have seats for most of your guests
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.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Your questions about paella catering in Wallend
Which station should guests use for Wallend?
Sheerness-On-Sea station, about 2.6 miles east of the centre.
How far is Wallend from London?
About 34 miles from central London.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, including Medway. See all areas.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Places near Wallend
Also in Wallend
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Drinks service on request
Events we cater in Wallend
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Anniversary celebrations
- Big birthdays
- Naming days and family parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St James Church of England Primary Academy, can book us as a food stall.
What your quote should include
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Whether travel is included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
What paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
- Whether you need crockery
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of the space, if you can
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
- 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