Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Derringstone, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Derringstone.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Evening grazing
Book tapas catering in Derringstone
Tapas catering for your event in Derringstone
Sangria and bar staff can be added, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Popular choices include albóndigas, Serrano ham and patatas bravas, and we’re often booked for tapas with a paella main course and office parties and launches.
In a rural spot like Derringstone, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Check diets in advance
- Tell us what role tapas play
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Spanish desserts to finish.
FAQs for Derringstone
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is Derringstone close to London?
Roughly 58 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Yes. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How much paella per person?
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.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
Tapas for events in Derringstone
Derringstone is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. From the centre of Derringstone to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Derringstone is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 6 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Snowdown station is about 2.6 miles away. A picnic in Jumping Downs? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Derringstone is within about 4 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
This part of Kent takes in CT4, so your event can be anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Derringstone Street, The Causeway and Railway Hill. Close by, we cover events in Heart's Delight (1 mile south-west), Barham (1 mile north), Gravel Castle (1 mile east), Out Elmstead (1 mile north) and Marley (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (8 miles south), Ramsgate (15 miles north-east) and Whitstable (12 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Kent and Canterbury Hospital (5.3 miles north-west).
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Parking and unloading
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and time of the event
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Perfect for your event in Derringstone
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Derringstone, people book us for occasions like:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Launches and office parties
- Engagement celebrations
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St John the Baptist.
What to look for in a quote
- How late numbers can change
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Whether VAT is included
- How bad weather is handled
Places near Derringstone
What else we do in Derringstone
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. At midsummer, it is light in Derringstone until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- 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.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Derringstone
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- 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