Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Abbey Gate events
Looking for tapas catering in Abbey Gate? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Cocktail parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Live tapas catering in Abbey Gate
Tapas catering in Abbey Gate, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Many events have both. For drinks reception canapés and office parties and launches, we can cook Manchego with membrillo, tortilla española and padrón peppers.
Near Abbey Gate, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Abbey Gate questions
Do you come out to small places like Abbey Gate?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at St Paul's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, Kent included. Find your area.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Events in Abbey Gate and across Kent
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Where we can cook in Abbey Gate
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room for a tapas table
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Abbey Gate
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Collect dietary needs
Tapas go out to the tables.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it is light in Abbey Gate until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Related guides
Nearby places to Abbey Gate
Also in Abbey Gate
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
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 keeps things simple.
Abbey Gate: venues and local tips
Abbey Gate is about 1 mile north-west of Foley Park, in Kent. For tapas catering in Abbey Gate, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Abbey Gate. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our events stretch from Abbey Gate to Canterbury (about 24 miles away).
Historic buildings near Abbey Gate frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. After a ceremony at a church such as St Paul's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Abbey Gate is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
This part of Kent takes in ME14 and ME16, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Lock Lane, Grange Lane and Tyland Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Abbey Gate is on the M20, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. For events just outside Abbey Gate, we cover Sandling (1 mile north), Ringlestone (1 mile south), Harbourland (1 mile east), Penenden Heath (1 mile south-east) and Foley Park (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Sittingbourne (10 miles east), Sevenoaks (14 miles west), Gravesend (11 miles north-west), Tonbridge (12 miles south-west), Northfleet (12 miles north-west) and Minster (15 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Allington Castle (within half a mile south-west) and Fremlin Walk (1.6 miles south). Open spaces near Abbey Gate include Boxley Hills and Burham Down.
- Local schools include The Maplesden Noakes School (1.3 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Yew Tree pub (within half a mile east)
Why choose tapas catering in Abbey Gate?
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Whatever you are celebrating in Abbey Gate, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
- Work receptions
A picnic in Tyland Barn? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
What your quote should include
- If the price includes VAT
- Travel and parking costs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- A clear list of what’s included
Should I cook it myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What tapas catering costs
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Parking and unloading
- How many courses
- Your choice of paellas
- Waiting and bar staff
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Where the event is
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Your date and when you want to eat
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised 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