Kent · England
Wedding paella catering in Hartlip, Kent
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food turns food into part of your wedding in Hartlip.
- Big weddings with every diet
- Informal wedding breakfasts
- Rustic barn weddings
Wedding paella catering near Hartlip
How our wedding paella catering works in Hartlip
Paella as evening food is popular: hot, filling and served quickly from the pan, so evening guests are fed and the dancing carries on. For informal wedding breakfasts and barn and farm weddings, we’ll put together a menu of canapé tapas, Spanish desserts and table tapas and more.
There is something special about a country wedding near Hartlip, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Perfect for your wedding in Hartlip
It gives guests something to do between the ceremony and the meal: watch the pans.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
- Barn and farm weddings
- Receptions after an intimate ceremony
- Weddings with mixed diets
For guests travelling by train, the nearest station is Newington station, about 1.3 miles east.
Questions to ask before you book
- Who provides the crockery
- If the price includes VAT
- When payment is due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
How the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Golden-hour photos in Hartlip at midsummer come around 9:15pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:50pm, and in late September about 7:00pm.
- You tell us your date, venue, guest numbers and how you picture the day.
- Together we plan each course and confirm the price.
- Timings are agreed with you and the venue, around speeches and photos.
- On the day we set up, cook live and serve each course as planned.
- We clear our cooking area, and staff stay as agreed.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Getting a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A separate open-sided gazebo if the meal is in a marquee
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
- Sangria & bar staff
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- Dessert
Nearby places to Hartlip
Also in Hartlip
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Planning a paella wedding in Hartlip
Hartlip is about 3 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Kent. Wherever your wedding is in the ME9 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 922 places across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of St Michael frequently hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so it’s ready as guests arrive. If you are hoping for photos in Foxburrow Wood, check whether the park needs permission for photography or gatherings. With the Kent Downs National Landscape within about 6 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
Wedding paella catering in ME9 is planned around your venue and your guests. From The Street, Dane Close and Place Lane or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. For weddings just outside Hartlip, we cover Lower Hartlip (1 mile east), Moor Street (1 mile north-west), Breach (1 mile north-east), Meresborough (1 mile west) and Newington (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (7 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (4 miles east), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Faversham (11 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (9 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Bayford Court (4.5 miles east) and Medway Maritime Hospital (4.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Detling Hill and Bishop Saltings.
- Schools near Hartlip include Leigh Academy Rainham (1.3 miles north-west)
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Let us know about meals for your band or photographer
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Book early for summer Saturdays
If speeches or photos run over, tell us, and we will adapt the timing so the paella is served at its best.
Canapé tapas with the drinks reception keep guests going during photos.
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Live paella or other catering?
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, think about your venue, your guests’ diets and the feel of the day. 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.
Why Hartlip hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Catering across Kent, including Hartlip
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
What’s in the pans
Canapé tapas
Small bites carried round on boards while guests mingle, perfect during the photos.
Desserts
Churros with chocolate, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Your questions about wedding paella catering in Hartlip
Can you cook in Foxburrow Wood?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can we have a tasting?
Ask us about tastings when you contact us.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
- 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