Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Birling, Kent
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Birling.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering near Birling
Birling: venues and local tips
Birling is about 6 miles south-west of Chatham, in Kent. Across the ME19 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our nearest city page is London, about 25 miles away.
Historic houses near Birling include Starkey Castle (3.9 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. For guests coming by train, West Malling station is about 1.8 miles away.
Here we cover the ME19 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Ryarsh Road, Masters Lane and Bull Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Close by, we cover events in Paddlesworth (1 mile north), Leybourne (1 mile south-east), Lunsford (1 mile east), Snodland (2 miles north-east) and Larkfield (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (6 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (12 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (10 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west) and Gravesend (8 miles north).
A little further out are Leybourne Castle (1.1 miles south-east) and Maidstone Hospital (4.5 miles south-east). Open spaces near Birling include Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
- Schools near Birling include The Holmesdale School (1.4 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Duke Of Wellington Public House (0.6 miles south-west)
Tapas catering in Birling, made fresh on the day
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. Typical bookings include tapas before paella and launches and office parties, serving croquetas, tortilla española and patatas bravas.
For a country party near Birling, tapas and sangria set the mood. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer drinks reception in Birling has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Paella compared with other options
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why Birling hosts choose us
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Live cooking, not reheated food
More for events in Birling
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
FAQs for Birling
Do you come out to small places like Birling?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Birling.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Where we can cook in Birling
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
- Parking near the venue
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Birling
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
What tapas catering costs
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The courses you’d like
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Birling? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Include staff for canapés
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Collect dietary needs
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
- 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