Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Deal events
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Deal and Kent, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
Tapas catering near Deal
Tapas catering in Deal, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. Typical bookings include sharing boards for evening guests and engagement celebrations, serving gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and albóndigas.
In Deal, tapas and paella together make a complete menu. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
What tapas catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- The length of service
- How many guests are eating
- Distance and access to the venue
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The venue or postcode
- Which courses you have in mind
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
What happens on the day
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. A summer drinks reception in Deal has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Read more
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Check diets in advance
- Label seafood clearly
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Make sure dishes are labelled
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Why choose live paella in Deal?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why book with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Fast service from the pan
Nearby places to Deal
Also in Deal
Perfect for your event in Deal
Big or small, tapas work.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Tapas starters
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Evening grazing
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Deal station, about 0.5 miles north-east.
What to look for in a quote
- Staff numbers and hours
- How late numbers can change
- How each diet is kept separate
- If the price includes VAT
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Permission from the venue
- Room for a tapas table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Deal
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Planning a tapas spread in Deal
Deal is about 14 miles east of Canterbury, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the CT14 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 14 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Walmer Castle (1.2 miles south). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Historic buildings near Deal often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. The coast is within about a mile, so garlic prawns are popular.
Anywhere in CT14, we can cook for your guests. Whether your event is on London Road, Forelands Square and Herschell Square or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Deal sits on or near the A258 and B2056, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Nearby, we also cater events in Mill Hill (1 mile west), Walmer (1 mile south), Sholden (1 mile north-west), Sholden Meadows (1 mile north-west) and Great Mongeham (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (14 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (7 miles south-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north) and Broadstairs (10 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Kent Museum of the Moving Image (0.6 miles north-east) and Deal Castle (0.5 miles east).
- Schools near Deal include Deal Parochial Church of England Primary School (under half a mile south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Brickmakers Arms (within half a mile north-east)
Deal: your questions answered
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What’s the nearest station to Deal for guests?
Deal station, about 0.5 miles north-east of the centre.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
How many paellas should we have?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Do you cover Deal?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Deal and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
- 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