Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Coldharbour, Kent
Planning tapas catering in Coldharbour? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Tapas before paella
- Work receptions
- Engagement celebrations
Tapas catering for Coldharbour events
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Parking near the venue
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Coldharbour
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
Tapas catering for your event in Coldharbour
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. Whether it is tapas and paella menus and engagement parties, we can cook patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Coldharbour, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
Step by step
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening receptions in Coldharbour stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late 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.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Coldharbour? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, use our quote form.
Related guides
Drinks receptions around Coldharbour
Coldharbour is about 2 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. For tapas catering in Coldharbour, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cover 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Coldharbour to London (24 miles away).
Historic houses near Coldharbour include Ightham Mote (2.2 miles north) and Knole House (3.6 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Coldharbour, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Tapas catering in TN11 is planned around your venue. Nearby, we also cater events in Hildenborough (1 mile south-west), Hilden Park (1 mile south), Watt's Cross (1 mile west), Budds (1 mile north) and Stocks Green (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (12 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles south), Gravesend (15 miles north) and Northfleet (15 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Tonbridge Castle (2.2 miles south) and The Milne Museum (2 miles south). Open spaces near Coldharbour include Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve and Barden Lake.
- Local schools include Hugh Christie Technology College (1.4 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Flying Dutchman Public House (1 mile south-west)
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
Coldharbour questions
Can you cater a reception after a service at Parish Church of St John?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you come out to small places like Coldharbour?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
What does tapas catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
What tapas catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- The length of service
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Where the event is
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and rough timings
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
Tapas are flexible, so they fit most plans. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Coldharbour hosts choose us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Why choose tapas catering in Coldharbour?
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Coldharbour book us for occasions like:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Evening sharing boards
- Engagement drinks
After a ceremony at a church such as Parish Church of St John, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before booking anyone
- If the price includes VAT
- A clear list of what’s included
- The deposit and payment dates
- How each diet is kept separate
Nearby places to Coldharbour
Also in Coldharbour
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Sangria and bar staff.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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 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