Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Fordwich events
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Fordwich and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas before paella
- Office parties and launches
Tapas catering in Fordwich
How our tapas catering works in Fordwich
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas. For birthday drinks and drinks parties and receptions, we’ll put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and patatas bravas.
In a rural spot like Fordwich, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Planners, venues and businesses
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
What affects the price in Fordwich
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- Travel, parking and access
- How many courses
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
- What the venue already provides
- The courses you’d like
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
Your questions about tapas catering in Fordwich
What’s the nearest station to Fordwich for guests?
Sturry station, in Fordwich itself.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Live paella or other catering?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why book with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Perfect for your event in Fordwich
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks reception canapés
- Cocktail parties
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Fordwich, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Comparing caterers
- A clear list of what’s included
- Space, access and power needs
- Who provides the crockery
- How late numbers can change
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Also in Fordwich
How the day works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Fordwich has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
Fordwich: venues and local tips
Fordwich is about 2 miles north-east of Canterbury, in Kent. Events in Fordwich are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Fordwich is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook.
A picnic in Chequer's Wood and Old Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Guests travelling by rail: Fordwich has its own station, Sturry station. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
This part of Kent takes in CT2. Whether your event is on Brooklands Close, Water Meadows and King Street or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Fordwich, we also cover Littlebourne (2 miles south-east), Bekesbourne Hill (2 miles south), Wickhambreaux (3 miles east), Ickham (3 miles south-east) and Patrixbourne (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Margate (13 miles north-east), Dover (13 miles south-east), Folkestone (15 miles south), Ramsgate (13 miles east), Broadstairs (14 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Whitefriars Shopping Centre (2.4 miles south-west) and St Martins Hospital (1.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Schools near Fordwich include Spires Academy (1.4 miles north-east) and Frank Montgomery School (1.4 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include Fordwich Arms (within half a mile south-east)
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Collect dietary needs
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Add a live paella main.
- 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