Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Eccles, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Eccles and the surrounding area.
- Birthday drinks
- Launches and office parties
- Evening sharing boards
Planning an event in Eccles?
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
How our tapas catering works in Eccles
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. For drinks parties and receptions and birthday drinks, we’ll put together a menu of albóndigas, tortilla española and croquetas and more.
For a country party near Eccles, tapas and sangria set the mood. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Your questions about tapas catering in Eccles
Could we have live paella in Burham Marsh?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter and St Paul?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: 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 cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Do you come to Eccles?
We do. We cook at events in Eccles and across Kent. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Eccles hosts choose us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Why choose tapas catering in Eccles?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Eccles, people book us for occasions like:
- Tapas and paella menus
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing tapas starters
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- How late numbers can change
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether travel is included
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Add sangria or cava
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Evening receptions in Eccles 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.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Read more
Nearby places to Eccles
Other catering in Eccles
Receptions and parties in Eccles
Eccles is about 3 miles south-west of Chatham, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the ME20 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cook in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 26 miles away.
Historic buildings near Eccles often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Nearby historic houses include Starkey Castle (3.2 miles north) and Restoration House (4.8 miles north). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Eccles is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
For tapas catering in ME20, we plan around your venue and your guests. From Bull Lane, Springett Close and Jenner Way or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Burham (1 mile north), Pratling Street (1 mile south-east), Forstal (1 mile south-east), New Hythe (1 mile south-west) and Scarborough (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (4 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (11 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (13 miles west), Gravesend (9 miles north-west) and Tonbridge (12 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Fremlin Walk (3.5 miles south-east) and Allington Castle (2.2 miles south-east). Open spaces near Eccles include Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
- Local schools include Aylesford School (1.5 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Bull Public House (under half a mile north-east)
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- A spot for our serving station
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
What’s in the pans
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
- 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