Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Bullingstone
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Bullingstone: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Cocktail parties
- Office parties and launches
- Welcome-drink canapés
Tapas catering near Bullingstone
Tapas catering in Bullingstone, cooked live
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. We cook albóndigas, gambas al ajillo and padrón peppers, and we’re often booked for evening grazing and work receptions.
For a country party near Bullingstone, tapas and sangria set the mood. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Common questions in Bullingstone
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Bullingstone for guests?
The closest is Tunbridge Wells station, roughly 2.5 miles away.
Can you do sangria?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do we need staff for canapés?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Bullingstone? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Towns and villages near Bullingstone
Other catering in Bullingstone
Drinks receptions around Bullingstone
Bullingstone is about 3 miles west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Bullingstone and nearby villages. We cook in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 26 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Penshurst Place (2.2 miles north-west) and Groombridge Place (2.3 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. For guests coming by train, Tunbridge Wells station is about 2.5 miles away.
We cook at events all over TN3 and the streets around it. Local streets include Bullingstone Lane, Ewehurst Lane and Langton Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Bullingstone for tapas catering include Speldhurst (1 mile north-east), Poundsbridge (1 mile north-west), Langton Green (1 mile south), Stockland Green (1 mile north-east) and Rusthall (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Sevenoaks (9 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (3 miles east), Tonbridge (5 miles north-east), Kings Hill (12 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (8 miles east) and Edenbridge (7 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Chiddingstone Castle (4 miles north-west) and Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery (2.4 miles east). The countryside around Bullingstone includes Barden Lake and Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve.
- Schools near Bullingstone include Bennett Memorial Diocesan School (1.6 miles east)
- Local pubs include The George And Dragon pub (less than half a mile north-east)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Add sangria or cava
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Sangria and bar staff.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, it is light in Bullingstone until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Tell 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 pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Unloading access
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
On the menu in Bullingstone
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Paella compared with other options
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- We cover Bullingstone and the whole of Kent
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Why choose tapas catering in Bullingstone?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas before paella
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Launches and office parties
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Bullingstone, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When payment is due
- The venue requirements
- How late numbers can change
- 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