Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Grafty Green
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Grafty Green: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Drinks reception canapés
- Work receptions
Live tapas catering in Grafty Green
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Tapas catering for your event in Grafty Green
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. Whether it’s sharing tapas starters and work receptions, we can cook tortilla española, albóndigas and Serrano ham for your guests.
In a rural spot like Grafty Green, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Grafty Green: venues and local tips
Grafty Green is about 8 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. From the centre of Grafty Green to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Grafty Green is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Grafty Green to Canterbury (18 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Lenham station, about 2.1 miles north-east. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Nicholas. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Grafty Green, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Tapas catering in ME17 is planned around your venue and timings. We can cater an event on streets such as Church Road, Woodcock Lane and Headcorn Road. If your venue is just outside Grafty Green, we also cover Liverton Street (1 mile north), Boughton Malherbe (1 mile north-east), Broadstone (1 mile south-west), Eastwood (1 mile west) and Platt's Heath (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (8 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north), Faversham (12 miles north-east), Minster (15 miles north) and Kings Hill (13 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include The Dog Collar Museum (3.4 miles north-west) and Coldbridge Castle (1 mile south-east).
- Schools near Grafty Green include The Lenham School (2.4 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Kings Head Public House (less than half a mile north)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Add sangria or cava
- Include staff for canapés
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Label seafood clearly
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Occasions we cook for in Grafty Green
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Grafty Green:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Nearby historic houses include Leeds Castle (3.5 miles north-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What to look for in a quote
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Travel and parking costs
- The deadline for final numbers
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Step by step
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh. Evening receptions in Grafty Green stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Grafty Green? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Questions from Grafty Green
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.
Could we have live paella in Kiln Wood?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How much tapas do we need?
That depends on their role in the meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Organising for someone else?
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Why choose live paella in Grafty Green?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Fast service from the pan
- Drinks service on request
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A spot for our serving station
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
Also near Grafty Green
What else we do in Grafty Green
- 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