Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Gravel Castle
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Gravel Castle.
- Work receptions
- Engagement celebrations
- Cocktail parties
Planning an event in Gravel Castle?
Tapas catering in Gravel Castle, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. We’re often asked to cater receptions and drinks parties and engagement drinks, with gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and patatas bravas.
In a rural spot like Gravel Castle, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
Your questions about tapas catering in Gravel Castle
Could we have live paella in Jumping Downs?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
How far is Gravel Castle from London?
Roughly 58 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you provide serving staff?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you are providing the drinks.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Do you cover Gravel Castle?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Gravel Castle and the rest of Kent. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space on each table
- Permission from the venue
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Gravel Castle
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is 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.
Receptions and parties in Gravel Castle
Gravel Castle is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. From the centre of Gravel Castle to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Gravel Castle is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 6 miles away.
Historic houses near Gravel Castle include Goodnestone Park (3.8 miles north-east) and Acrise Place (4.8 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. For guests coming by train, Snowdown station is about 2.2 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Gravel Castle, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in CT4, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Gravel Castle Road and Church Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Barham (1 mile north-west), Derringstone (1 mile west), Heart's Delight (1 mile west), Out Elmstead (1 mile north-west) and Womenswold (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (14 miles west), Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (7 miles south-east), Folkestone (8 miles south) and Ramsgate (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Kent and Canterbury Hospital (5.5 miles north-west).
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, often with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
How we price tapas catering
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- The courses you’d like
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Who books tapas catering in Gravel Castle?
They make a perfect starter before paella.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St John the Baptist.
Questions to ask before booking
- The wet-weather plan
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
- VAT, if it applies
The process
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Sunset in Gravel Castle is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Also near Gravel Castle
Other catering in Gravel Castle
Working with your venue
If you’re 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.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Generic canapés all look the same. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Gravel Castle
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- We cover Gravel Castle and the whole of Kent
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
- 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