Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Garlinge Green, Kent
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Garlinge Green: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement celebrations
Live tapas catering in Garlinge Green
Tapas catering for your event in Garlinge Green
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Whether it is engagement drinks and tapas before paella, we will put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and Manchego with membrillo for your guests.
In a rural spot like Garlinge Green, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Garlinge Green: venues and local tips
Garlinge Green is about 4 miles south-west of Canterbury, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Garlinge Green will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Garlinge Green is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook.
A picnic in Broadham Down? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Historic buildings near Garlinge Green frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Garlinge Green, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in CT4, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Petham (1 mile south-east), Shalmsford Street (1 mile north), Mystole (1 mile north-west), Chartham (2 miles north) and Anvil Green (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (9 miles south-west), Canterbury (4 miles north-east), Dover (13 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north-west), Folkestone (12 miles south-east) and Whitstable (8 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Whitefriars Shopping Centre (3.9 miles north-east) and Kent and Canterbury Hospital (3.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Also near Garlinge Green
What else we do in Garlinge Green
Garlinge Green questions
Is Garlinge Green close to London?
About 52 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Is Garlinge Green too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Before you choose a spot
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Parking near the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Venue approval for outside catering
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
Live paella or other catering?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Collect dietary needs
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Add sangria or cava
Each dish is labelled.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Why choose tapas catering in Garlinge Green?
Tapas get people talking.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Cocktail parties
- Anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
- Engagement celebrations
Guests travelling by rail: Chartham station is about 1.8 miles away.
What your quote should include
- The deadline for final numbers
- A clear list of what’s included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Working with your venue
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, it’s light in Garlinge Green until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us a contact for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
- 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