Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Detling, Kent
Planning tapas catering in Detling? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
Planning an event in Detling?
Common questions in Detling
Can you cook in The Larches?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is Detling too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Are the tapas served hot?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue so they’re served at their best.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Tapas catering for your event in Detling
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. Popular choices include gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and padrón peppers, and we are often booked for drinks reception canapés and sharing tapas starters.
Near Detling, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Towns and villages near Detling
More for events in Detling
Is live paella right for your event?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why Detling hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
- A spot for our serving station
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Timings and hours
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Parking and unloading
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- The courses you’d like
- The date and time of the event
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Label seafood clearly
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Add sangria or cava
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Why choose tapas catering in Detling?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Detling, people book us for events such as:
- Engagement drinks
- Evening grazing
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
Historic houses near Detling include Stoneacre (3 miles south) and Leeds Castle (4.1 miles south-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What your quote should include
- Staff numbers and hours
- Whether VAT is included
- What the price includes, item by item
- Allergen information for each dish
Drinks receptions around Detling
Detling is about 3 miles north-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Anywhere in ME14, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cover 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Detling to Canterbury (about 22 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Detling, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as St Martin of Tours Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Detling, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in ME14, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on The Street, Princes Way and Queens Way. If your venue is just outside Detling, we also cover Thurnham (1 mile south-east), Grove Green (1 mile south-west), Harbourland (1 mile west), Weavering (2 miles south) and Bearsted (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (3 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (8 miles north-east), Gravesend (12 miles north-west), Tonbridge (14 miles south-west), Faversham (14 miles east) and Northfleet (14 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find KIMS hospital (0.8 miles south-west) and The Mall Maidstone (2.4 miles south-west). Open spaces near Detling include Burham Down and Detling Hill.
- Local pubs include The Cock Horse pub (less than half a mile north)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Evening receptions in Detling stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- 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
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
- 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