Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Bowmans, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Bowmans. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Cocktail parties
Book tapas catering in Bowmans
Tapas catering for your event in Bowmans
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We are often asked to cater sharing tapas starters and canapés with welcome drinks, serving Serrano ham, padrón peppers and albóndigas.
In Bowmans, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The date and rough timings
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The venue or postcode
Send us the date, your venue or DA1 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
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 at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Live paella or other catering?
Tapas are flexible, so they fit most plans. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- We cover Bowmans and the whole of Kent
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Common questions in Bowmans
Can you cook in Dartford Heath?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Which station should guests use for Bowmans?
The closest is Crayford station, roughly 0.6 miles away.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Can we add drinks?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Also near Bowmans
Also in Bowmans
For event organisers in Bowmans
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Bowmans? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Who books tapas catering in Bowmans?
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Launches and office parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
- Table tapas as a starter
Nearby historic houses include Hall Place and Gardens (1.1 miles north-west) and Red House (2.5 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- How late numbers can change
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether travel is included
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Unloading access
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Bowmans
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
The process
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. At midsummer, it’s light in Bowmans until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Related guides
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Label seafood clearly
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Sangria and bar staff.
Drinks receptions around Bowmans
Bowmans is about 2 miles west of Dartford, in Kent. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Bowmans and nearby villages. Bowmans is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 13 miles away.
A picnic in Dartford Heath? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Crayford station, about 0.6 miles north. Bowmans is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cater events across the DA1, DA2 and DA5 postcode area and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Swan Lane, Dale Road and Ross Road or the roads around them. Bowmans sits on or near the A2018, which makes travel to your event easy. We also cook at events in Wilmington (1 mile south), Crayford (1 mile north), Coldblow (1 mile west), Joyden's Wood (1 mile south-west) and Barnes Cray (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cater in Sevenoaks (11 miles south), Gravesend (9 miles east), Northfleet (7 miles east), Swanley (3 miles south), Kings Hill (15 miles south-east) and Swanscombe (5 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Bexley Museum (1.1 miles north-west) and Broadway Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Bowmans includes Wansunt Pit.
- Nearby schools include Wilmington Grammar School for Girls (0.8 miles south-east) and St Columba's Catholic Boys' School (1.4 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you will find Bird in Hand pub (0.8 miles north-east)
- Local facilities include Colyers (2.2 miles north)
- 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