Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Arpinge, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Arpinge. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Tapas starters
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Anniversary parties
Tapas catering for Arpinge events
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Tapas catering for your event in Arpinge
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Lots of events do both. Whether it’s anniversary parties and tapas before paella, we can cook croquetas, albóndigas and tortilla española and more.
Near Arpinge, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Perfect for your event in Arpinge
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Arpinge, people book us for occasions like:
- Anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement parties
- Tapas before paella
After a ceremony at a church such as St Oswald's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- How each diet is kept separate
- If the price includes VAT
- How long the team stays
How the day works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. A summer drinks reception in Arpinge has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
How to get a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Check diets in advance
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Table tapas are set down to share.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Arpinge questions
Is Arpinge 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.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details and we will advise.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Of course. Tapas can be booked without paella.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Places near Arpinge
More for events in Arpinge
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The address or venue name
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of where we’d cook
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Permission from the venue
- Room for a tapas table
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Arpinge
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
Planning a tapas spread in Arpinge
Arpinge is about 1 mile south-west of Hawkinge, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Arpinge will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Arpinge is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Arpinge to Canterbury (about 12 miles away).
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Arpinge, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Folkestone West station, about 1.7 miles south-east. Arpinge is within about 4 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
For tapas catering in CT18, we plan around your venue and timings. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Hawkinge (1 mile north-east), Densole (2 miles north-east), Old Hawkinge (2 miles east), Swingfield Minnis (3 miles north-east) and Elham (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (12 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (8 miles east), Deal (14 miles north-east), Hythe (3 miles south-west) and Tower Hamlets (7 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Royal Victoria Hospital (2.2 miles south-east) and Folkestone Castle (1.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Arpinge includes Cheriton Hill.
- Schools near Arpinge include Turner Free School (1.3 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Cat & Custard Pot pub (0.7 miles north)
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
- 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