Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Aylesford, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Aylesford and the surrounding area.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Planning an event in Aylesford?
Tapas catering in Aylesford, made fresh on the day
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas in and around Aylesford. Whether it’s tapas with a paella main course and birthday drinks, we will put together a menu of albóndigas, tortilla española and patatas bravas for your guests.
In Aylesford, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Perfect for your event in Aylesford
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Aylesford, people book us for events such as:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas starters
- Evening sharing boards
- Launches and office parties
Historic houses near Aylesford include Starkey Castle (4.5 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Questions to ask before booking
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- How long the team stays
- VAT, if it applies
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. At midsummer, it’s light in Aylesford until about 9:20pm, 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 arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Also near Aylesford
Also in Aylesford
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Fast service from the pan
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Room for a tapas table
- Permission from the venue
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Aylesford
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The date and rough timings
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Drinks receptions around Aylesford
Aylesford is about 3 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. Across the ME20 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Aylesford to Canterbury (about 26 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Aylesford Church. Guests travelling by rail: Aylesford has its own station, Aylesford station. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Aylesford, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Kent takes in ME20, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Station Road, High Street and Hall Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Ditton (1 mile west), Allington (1 mile south-east), East Malling (2 miles west), Well Street (2 miles south-west) and Fant (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (3 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (12 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (12 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Allington Castle (1.7 miles east) and Medway megaliths (1.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Aylesford include Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
- Local schools include Aylesford School (less than half a mile west)
- Pubs nearby include The Chequers pub (within half a mile north-east)
FAQs for Aylesford
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.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Aylesford Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How many tapas per person?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Tell us more and we will advise.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
- 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