Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Elham, Kent
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Elham and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Engagement drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Planning an event in Elham?
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
What you get with us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Fast service from the pan
- Events in Elham and across Kent
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Tapas catering in Elham, made fresh on the day
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas. On the menu are tortilla española, Serrano ham and padrón peppers, and typical bookings are for anniversary parties and evening sharing boards.
In a rural spot like Elham, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
How it works
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. At midsummer, it’s light in Elham until about 9:15pm, 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 hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Read more
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Add sangria or cava
Afterwards, we clear away.
Sangria and bar staff.
Occasions we cook for in Elham
Big or small, tapas work.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Elham, people book us for events such as:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
Guests travelling by rail: Sandling station is about 4.7 miles away.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Travel and parking costs
- Who provides the crockery
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Parking near the venue
- Room for a tapas table
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
Elham: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
What’s the nearest station to Elham for guests?
Sandling station, about 4.7 miles south-west of the centre.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Places near Elham
What else we do in Elham
Planning a tapas spread in Elham
Elham is about 5 miles north-west of Folkestone, in Kent. Events in Elham are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 922 places in Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 9 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Nearby historic houses include Acrise Place (1.4 miles south-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Elham is within about a mile of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 6 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
For tapas catering in CT4, we plan around your venue and timings. We can cater an event on streets such as High Street, Pound Lane and Vicarage Lane. Other places close to Elham for tapas catering include Swingfield Minnis (2 miles east), Densole (3 miles south-east), Selsted (3 miles east), Breach (3 miles north-east) and Lodge Lees (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (11 miles west), Canterbury (9 miles north), Dover (8 miles east), Folkestone (5 miles south-east), Whitstable (14 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Royal Victoria Hospital (5.3 miles south-east) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (3.7 miles south). The countryside around Elham includes Cheriton Hill.
- Nearby, you’ll find The King's Arms (under half a mile north-east)
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How many courses
- How many staff you need
- Guest numbers
- Your choice of paellas
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The courses you’d like
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Expected numbers
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Elham? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, use our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Always popular and usually vegetarian.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
- 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