Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Canterbury, Kent
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Canterbury.
- Engagement drinks
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing tapas starters
Live tapas catering in Canterbury
Tapas catering in Canterbury, cooked live
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. We cook tortilla española, croquetas and gambas al ajillo, and we are regularly asked to cater tapas before paella and sharing tapas starters.
For a drinks reception in Canterbury, canapé tapas keep guests mingling. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Permission from the venue
- Unloading access
- An area to prepare hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Live paella or other catering?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Canterbury hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Fast service from the pan
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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 will do the cooking.
Occasions we cook for in Canterbury
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Office parties and launches
- Evening sharing boards
- Welcome-drink canapés
For guests coming by train, Canterbury East station is in Canterbury itself.
Questions to ask before booking
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- When final numbers are due
- The wet-weather plan
- Staff numbers and hours
What tapas catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- How long we’re needed on site
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The address or venue name
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the space, if you can
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Also near Canterbury
What else we do in Canterbury
Step by step
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it is light in Canterbury until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; 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 pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Read more
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Add sangria or cava
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Serving boards and crockery.
Canterbury: venues and local tips
Canterbury is in Kent. Across the CT1 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Canterbury is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover.
Parks such as Bus Company Island have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Margaret, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Wherever your event is in CT1, CT2, CT4 and CT3, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Long Market, High Street and High Street St Gregorys or a nearby road, we can cook there. Canterbury sits on or near the A2 and A28, which makes travel to your event easy. Close by, we cover events in Wincheap (1 mile south-west), Harbledown (1 mile west), Hales Place (1 mile north), Thanington (1 mile south-west) and Stuppington (1 mile south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (13 miles south-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles south-east), Folkestone (14 miles south), Ramsgate (15 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Kent, Canterbury has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Well-known places in the area include Whitefriars Shopping Centre (less than half a mile south-west) and Canterbury Roman Museum (within half a mile south). Open spaces near Canterbury include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Schools near Canterbury include Barton Court Grammar School (0.5 miles east) and Canterbury School of Architecture (0.5 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Old Buttermarket pub (within half a mile south-west)
Your questions about tapas catering in Canterbury
Could we have live paella in Bus Company Island?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
What’s the nearest station to Canterbury for guests?
Canterbury East station, in Canterbury itself.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
How many paellas should we have?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
- 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