Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Bircholt Forstal, Kent
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 makes the food a highlight of your event in Bircholt Forstal.
- Engagement drinks
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering for Bircholt Forstal events
Live paella or other catering?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why us?
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Fast service from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Tapas catering for your event in Bircholt Forstal
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Popular choices include gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and Manchego with membrillo, and typical bookings are for evening grazing and engagement parties.
Near Bircholt Forstal, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
What affects the price in Bircholt Forstal
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
- How many staff you need
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and rough timings
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Receptions and parties in Bircholt Forstal
Bircholt Forstal is about 5 miles east of Ashford, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Bircholt Forstal, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. Bircholt Forstal is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Bircholt Forstal to Canterbury (about 11 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Westenhanger station is about 3.8 miles away. Historic buildings near Bircholt Forstal often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Bircholt Forstal is within about 4 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in TN25, we can cook for your guests. Close by, we cover events in Brabourne Lees (1 mile south), Brabourne (1 mile east), Smeeth (1 mile south-west), Ridgeway (1 mile south-west) and Lilyvale (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (5 miles west), Canterbury (11 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles east), Folkestone (9 miles south-east), Whitstable (15 miles north) and Faversham (13 miles north).
A little further out are William Harvey Hospital (2.8 miles west) and Lympne Castle (4.7 miles south-east). Not far away are Tolsford Hill and Hatch Park.
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Space on each table
- Permission from the venue
- Unloading access
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, 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 is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Common questions in Bircholt Forstal
Can you cook at venues 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.
Is Bircholt Forstal close to London?
Roughly 53 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you come to Bircholt Forstal?
We do. Bircholt Forstal is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What happens on the day
Here’s how the day usually runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. A summer drinks reception in Bircholt Forstal has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Each dish is labelled.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Also near Bircholt Forstal
What else we do in Bircholt Forstal
Events we cater in Bircholt Forstal
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Whatever you are celebrating in Bircholt Forstal, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Tapas and paella menus
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas starters
- Engagement parties
Nearby historic houses include Westenhanger Castle (3.6 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Before you book anyone
- How long the team stays
- Travel and parking costs
- If the price includes VAT
- The deadline for final numbers
- 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