Medway · England
Paella Party Catering in St Mary Hoo
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in St Mary Hoo and the surrounding area.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Paella party catering in St Mary Hoo
Paella party catering for your party in St Mary Hoo
Birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and summer get-togethers all suit live paella. The pans become the focal point, and everyone gets a hot, generous plate. We cook seafood paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for birthday parties and engagement and anniversary parties.
Country parties near St Mary Hoo suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Planning the cooking area
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Send a picture of the garden so we can check
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in St Mary Hoo
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
Questions from St Mary Hoo
How far is St Mary Hoo from London?
Roughly 30 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Will the neighbours notice?
Paella is cooked over gas, so there’s cooking steam and smell but little smoke. The smell is usually the best advert for the party.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you cook at halls and clubs?
Frequently, yes. We need a suitable spot and the venue’s agreement.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Plan where rubbish goes
- Give separate numbers for children
- Make sure children stay back from the pans
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
The cooking area stays tidy and safe, with a clear space around the burners.
Tapas and nibbles while the paella cooks keep guests happy.
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich stock, for the fish lovers.
Churros
Churros are a treat for all ages.
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in St Mary Hoo? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Parties in St Mary Hoo: gardens, venues and local tips
St Mary Hoo is in Medway. We cater parties at homes, gardens and venues in St Mary Hoo and the surrounding area. St Mary Hoo is one of 68 places in Medway we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 24 miles away.
This part of Medway takes in ME3, and we can cater your party anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater parties 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).
Other landmarks nearby include Bay Museum (3.6 miles north) and Medway Maritime Hospital (6 miles south-west). Open spaces near St Mary Hoo include Bishop Saltings.
Nearby places to St Mary Hoo
More for events in St Mary Hoo
What happens on the day
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. A summer party in St Mary Hoo stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it’s dark by about 7:00pm; add lights for the evening.
- We check your date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
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Perfect for your party in St Mary Hoo
Any occasion works, from a first birthday to a ruby wedding.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Family reunions
- Christenings and naming days
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Street and neighbourhood parties
After a christening at a church like Church of St Mary, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
Questions to ask before booking
- What the price includes, item by item
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- How long the team stays
- When payment is due
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
How we price paella party catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Parking and unloading
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Expected numbers
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
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.
- 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