Medway · England
Paella party catering in Lower Upnor, Medway
Bring the theatre of live paella to your party in Lower Upnor. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Summer garden parties
- Milestone birthdays
- Celebrations of life
Planning an event in Lower Upnor?
How our paella party catering works in Lower Upnor
Add tapas to start, churros for afters and a jug of sangria, and the whole menu is sorted. We are frequently asked to cater birthday parties and summer garden parties, with tapas, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Country parties near Lower Upnor suit live paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. Everything is cooked from scratch at your party, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Places near Lower Upnor
What else we do in Lower Upnor
Dishes our guests love
Tapas
Patatas bravas, tortilla, croquetas and olives to start.
Churros
Fried, sugared and dipped in chocolate.
Step by step
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. A summer party in Lower Upnor stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:00pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
- The number of people
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What to tell us
The more we know about your party, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The address or venue name
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Which courses you have in mind
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.
Where we can cook in Lower Upnor
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Lower Upnor
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Churros
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
Common questions in Lower Upnor
Is Lower Upnor too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Lower Upnor from London?
Roughly 27 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you cater in Lower Upnor?
Yes, we do. Lower Upnor is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Does it make a lot of smoke?
Gas cooking means steam and a good smell, not much smoke. The smell is usually the best advert for the party.
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Ensure children stay back from the pans
- Warn the neighbours
- Give separate numbers for children
- Plan where rubbish goes
When service is finished, we pack down quietly, so the party carries on.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges round off the meal.
Working with your venue
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Is live paella right for your party?
For a party that feels a little special without being formal, live paella fits perfectly. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Lower Upnor
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Party venues around Lower Upnor
Lower Upnor is about 2 miles north-east of Rochester, in Medway. We cook at parties in homes, gardens and venues in Lower Upnor. Lower Upnor is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 26 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Restoration House (2 miles south-west) and Temple Manor (2.3 miles south-west). Grand settings like these frequently have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. Parks such as Lower Lines Park normally need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is often easier.
We cover parties in every part of ME2 and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Galleon Way, Cutter Close and Schooner Walk, and we can cook for a party on any of them. Other places close to Lower Upnor for paella party catering include Upper Upnor (1 mile south-west), Chattenden (1 mile north), Wainscott (1 mile west), Hoo St Werburgh (2 miles north-east) and Cooling Street (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gillingham (3 miles south-east), Chatham (4 miles south), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Strood (3 miles south-west), Luton (3 miles south) and Park Wood (5 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find Huguenot Museum (1.8 miles south-west) and City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1.8 miles south-west). Not far away are Rede Common and Gad's Hill.
- Schools near Lower Upnor include The Hundred of Hoo Academy (1.2 miles north-east) and Waterfront University Technical College (1.3 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Ship pub (under half a mile east)
- Other local spots include Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf (1.8 miles south)
- 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