Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Barnsole events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Barnsole.
- Evening sharing boards
- Tapas starters
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Barnsole
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s 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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Tapas catering for your event in Barnsole
Sangria and bar staff can be added, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Popular choices include croquetas, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater table tapas as a starter and tapas with a paella main course.
For a country party near Barnsole, tapas and sangria set the mood. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Who books tapas catering in Barnsole?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Engagement celebrations
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Sharing tapas starters
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St James.
What your quote should include
- Whether travel is included
- Staff numbers and hours
- Allergen information for each dish
- What the price includes, item by item
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Label seafood clearly
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Bar staff and sangria.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A clear, itemised quote
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Drinks service on request
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
More for events in Barnsole
FAQs for Barnsole
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St James?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Barnsole?
The closest is Adisham station, roughly 3.1 miles away.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Where we can cook in Barnsole
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, often with ham or mushroom.
The process
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. At midsummer, it’s light in Barnsole until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Planning a tapas spread in Barnsole
Barnsole is about 6 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. From the centre of Barnsole to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 8 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Goodnestone Park (2 miles south-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. Guests travelling by rail: Adisham station is about 3.1 miles away.
We cover events in every part of the CT3 postcode area and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Mill Lane, Meadow Gardens and Mill Road or the roads around them. For events just outside Barnsole, we cover Staple (1 mile north-west), Flemings (1 mile east), Durlock (1 mile north), Hammill Park (1 mile south-east) and Twitham (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (8 miles west), Margate (10 miles north-east), Dover (9 miles south), Folkestone (13 miles south), Ramsgate (8 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include White Mill (3.1 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Local pubs include The Black Pig Inn (within half a mile east)
- 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