Medway · England
Tapas Catering for Cooling events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Cooling and across Medway.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Engagement parties
Planning an event in Cooling?
What affects the price in Cooling
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Distance and access to the venue
- The length of service
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Expected numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Cooling, and we will put together a menu and price.
About our tapas catering in Cooling
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. Whether it’s engagement parties and sharing boards for evening guests, we can cook tortilla española, patatas bravas and albóndigas for your guests.
Near Cooling, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Why choose live paella in Cooling?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
How it works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. At midsummer, it’s light in Cooling until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Give us a contact for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Questions from Cooling
Can you cater a reception after a service at St James' Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Cooling for guests?
Higham station, about 3.3 miles south-west of the centre.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, including Medway. Find your area.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Places near Cooling
Other catering in Cooling
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Check diets in advance
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Occasions we cook for in Cooling
Big or small, tapas work.
In Cooling and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Evening grazing
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement drinks
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St James' Church.
Questions to ask before you book
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The wet-weather plan
- The venue requirements
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, frequently with alioli.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Cooling: venues and local tips
Cooling is about 5 miles north of Rochester, in Medway. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Cooling and the surrounding area. We cater in all 68 towns and villages in Medway. Our nearest city page is London, about 27 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Restoration House (4.9 miles south) and Temple Manor (4.9 miles south). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Historic buildings near Cooling often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
This part of Medway takes in ME3. That could mean an event in a garden on Main Road and Cooling Road or the roads around them. For events just outside Cooling, we cover Cooling Street (1 mile south-west), High Halstow (2 miles east), Sharnal Street (2 miles south-east), Fenn Street (2 miles east) and Chattenden (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (6 miles south), Chatham (7 miles south), Rochester (5 miles south), Rainham (7 miles south-east), Strood (5 miles south-west) and Luton (6 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Upnor Castle (3.4 miles south) and French Hospital (4.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Canvey Wick and Gad's Hill.
- 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