Medway · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Gillingham
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food makes the food a highlight of your wedding in Gillingham.
- Civil partnerships and vow renewals
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
- Barn and farm weddings
Wedding paella catering near Gillingham
A closer look at the menu
Desserts
Churros with chocolate, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Canapé tapas
One- and two-bite tapas on boards, ideal for the drinks reception.
Wedding paella catering in Gillingham, cooked live
At a wedding, paella is both the meal and a bit of a show. Guests drift over to watch the pans while the photos are being taken, and the food arrives hot and plentiful. Whether it is destination-style celebrations at home and civil partnerships and vow renewals, we can cook canapé tapas, Spanish desserts and table tapas and more.
Around Gillingham, couples choose venues, gardens and marquees. Whichever you choose, we will agree the cooking spot with the venue. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Paella compared with other options
A hog roast is popular at weddings, but harder for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests. Paella covers them with separate pans. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Fast service from the pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
Getting married in Gillingham?
Gillingham is about 30 miles east of London, in Medway. Tell us where your wedding in Gillingham will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. Gillingham is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway we cover. We cook right across the region, from Gillingham to Canterbury (23 miles away).
Put the station on your invitation: Gillingham (Kent) station is about 1.5 miles away. If you’re marrying at a church near Gillingham, such as Holy Trinity Church, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so it is ready as guests arrive. With the Kent Downs National Landscape within about 8 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules.
Wherever your wedding is in ME8, ME7, ME4 and ME5, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Leeds Square, London Road and Dorset Square, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. Gillingham is on the A2 and A231, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Nearby, we also cater weddings in Twydall (1 mile east), Lower Twydall (1 mile north-east), Grange (1 mile north), Darland (1 mile south-west) and Hale (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Rochester (4 miles west), Strood (4 miles west), Lordswood (3 miles south-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west) and Walderslade (3 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in Medway, Gillingham has lots of places to hold a wedding.
Other landmarks nearby include Medway Maritime Hospital (1.6 miles west) and Six Poor Travellers House (3.3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Blue Bell Hill and Bishop Saltings.
- Local schools include The Robert Napier School (0.8 miles north-west) and The Robert Napier School (0.8 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Star pub (0.6 miles west)
- Other local spots include Chatham Free Library (1.9 miles west)
For event organisers in Gillingham
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Gillingham? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Gillingham questions
We are having a ceremony at Holy Trinity Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which station should guests use for Gillingham?
Gillingham (Kent) station, about 1.5 miles north-west of the centre.
What if our speeches run late?
We plan for it. The rice goes in at the last sensible moment, so it’s ready when you are.
What about supplier meals?
Of course. Include suppliers in your numbers.
Where do you cater?
We cover London and the South East, Medway included. Find your area.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
What wedding paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many courses
- The paellas you choose
- How long we are needed on site
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- The courses you’d like
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Where the event is
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
How the day works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. At midsummer, sunset in Gillingham is about 9:20pm, so we can time the evening paella around your photos. Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May and 7:00pm in late September.
- First, we check your date.
- You choose canapés, tapas, paellas and desserts.
- We confirm everything with your venue.
- Guests watch the paella cook during the reception.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Give us a contact for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
Thinking about wedding paella catering for your wedding in Gillingham? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, use our quote form.
Related guides
Perfect for your wedding in Gillingham
Couples choose paella because it feels relaxed and generous, and because guests remember it.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Gillingham, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
- Food for evening guests
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
If you’re hoping for photos in Ambley Wood, check whether the park needs permission for photography or gatherings.
Comparing caterers
- How long the team stays
- The wet-weather plan
- Whether travel is included
- What the price includes, item by item
What else we do in Gillingham
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- An open-sided catering gazebo next to the marquee
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Evening paella
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- 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