Medway · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Gillingham, Medway
Looking for tapas catering in Gillingham? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
- Birthday drinks
Planning an event in Gillingham?
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Tapas catering in Gillingham, cooked live
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include welcome-drink canapés and tapas and paella menus, serving tortilla española, albóndigas and Manchego with membrillo.
Receptions and parties in Gillingham can be at home or at a venue. Tapas work at both. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Check diets in advance
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Tell us what role tapas play
Each dish is labelled.
Bar staff and sangria.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Gillingham? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Why choose live paella in Gillingham?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Catering across Medway, including Gillingham
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- The paellas you choose
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Anything your venue supplies
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Gillingham, and we will put together a menu and price.
Also in Gillingham
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
Drinks receptions around Gillingham
Gillingham is about 30 miles east of London, in Medway. For an event in Gillingham, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. Gillingham is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Gillingham to Canterbury (about 23 miles away).
A picnic in Ambley Wood? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. Nearby historic houses include Restoration House (3.3 miles west) and Temple Manor (4 miles west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Gillingham, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Tapas catering in ME8, ME7, ME4 and ME5 is planned around your venue and timings. Your event could be at a home on Leeds Square, London Road and Dorset Square. Gillingham sits on or near the A2 and A231, which makes travel to your event easy. Other places close to Gillingham for tapas catering include Twydall (1 mile east), Lower Twydall (1 mile north-east), Grange (1 mile north), Darland (1 mile south-west) and Hale (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Rochester (4 miles west), Strood (4 miles west), Lordswood (3 miles south-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west) and Walderslade (3 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in Medway, Gillingham has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Nearby you will also find Medway Maritime Hospital (1.6 miles west) and Six Poor Travellers House (3.3 miles west). Not far away are Blue Bell Hill and Bishop Saltings.
- Local schools include The Robert Napier School (0.8 miles north-west) and The Robert Napier School (0.8 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Star pub (0.6 miles west)
- Local facilities include Chatham Free Library (1.9 miles west)
Common questions in Gillingham
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Gillingham close to London?
Roughly 30 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, Medway included. See all areas.
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Evening receptions in Gillingham stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use 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