Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Benenden
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Benenden and Kent, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement drinks
- Work receptions
Book tapas catering in Benenden
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why Benenden hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Tapas catering for your event in Benenden
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. On the menu are croquetas, albóndigas and tortilla española, and we are often booked for office parties and launches and engagement celebrations.
Near Benenden, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Benenden questions
Do you come out to small places like Benenden?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St George?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Benenden.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do you come to Benenden?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Benenden and the rest of Kent. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many guests are eating
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How long we are needed on site
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Check diets in advance
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Add sangria or cava
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Bar staff and sangria.
Planners, venues and businesses
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
What happens on the day
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 Benenden has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Drinks receptions around Benenden
Benenden is about 13 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Benenden or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Benenden is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Benenden to Canterbury (about 26 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St George, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic houses near Benenden include Great Dixter (5 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Benenden, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Tapas catering in TN17 is planned around your venue and your guests. Your event could be at a home on The Street, Hortons Close and Iden Green Road. Being close to the B2086, Benenden is simple for us to get to for your event. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Iden Green (1 mile south), Coursehorn (2 miles north-west), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-west), Swattenden (2 miles north-west) and Cranbrook (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles north), Ashford (13 miles east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles west), Foley Park (15 miles north), Paddock Wood (11 miles north-west) and Tenterden (5 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Mervyn Quinlan Museum (2 miles north-east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.2 miles north).
- Local pubs include King William IV Public House (under half a mile south)
Perfect for your event in Benenden
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
In Benenden and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Evening sharing boards
- Table tapas as a starter
- Drinks reception canapés
- Engagement celebrations
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Benenden, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The deposit and payment dates
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Nearby places to Benenden
Other catering in Benenden
- 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