Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Borden, 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 turns food into part of your event in Borden.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering near Borden
About our tapas catering in Borden
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. For welcome-drink canapés and table tapas as a starter, we will put together a menu of albóndigas, croquetas and Serrano ham and more.
In a rural spot like Borden, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Sunset in Borden is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Ask for a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Borden, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space on each table
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Borden
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
Why choose tapas catering in Borden?
Tapas are sociable food.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Borden book us for occasions like:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Office parties and launches
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- Whether travel is included
- When payment is due
- How late numbers can change
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Paella compared with other options
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Borden: your questions answered
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Could we have live paella in Cromers Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Should we have more than one paella?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Tapas for events in Borden
Borden is about 1 mile south-west of Sittingbourne, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Borden and the surrounding area. Borden is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 17 miles away.
Parks such as Cromers Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you are looking at a historic venue around Borden, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Borden is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the ME9 postcode area. Local streets include The Street, Mountview and Homestead View; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Heart's Delight (1 mile south-east), Tunstall (1 mile south-east), Sittingbourne (1 mile north-east), Highsted (2 miles south-east) and Rodmersham Green (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (9 miles south-west), Ashford (15 miles south-east), Whitstable (14 miles east), Faversham (8 miles east), Minster (7 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (14 miles west).
A little further out are Bayford Court (1.7 miles north-east) and Sittingbourne and Milton Urban District (1.6 miles north-east).
- Local schools include Westlands School (0.7 miles north)
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Canapés need staff to serve
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Add a live paella main.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Travel, parking and access
- How long we’re needed on site
- Waiting and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A photo of the space, if you can
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Towns and villages near Borden
What else we do in Borden
- 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