Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Great Chart
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Great Chart. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Work receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
Live tapas catering in Great Chart
Tapas catering in Great Chart, made fresh on the day
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. Popular choices include Manchego with membrillo, gambas al ajillo and Serrano ham, and typical bookings are for tapas before paella and sharing tapas starters.
In a rural spot like Great Chart, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
Great Chart: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
Places near Great Chart
What else we do in Great Chart
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Great Chart stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
Planning tapas catering in Great Chart? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Serving boards and crockery.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Paella compared with other options
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why book with us
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Who books tapas catering in Great Chart?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Birthday drinks
- Engagement parties
- Launches and office parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
For guests coming by train, Ashford International station is about 1.8 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- How each diet is kept separate
- Space, access and power needs
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- When payment is due
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- A spot for our serving station
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space on each table
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Great Chart
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
Receptions and parties in Great Chart
Great Chart is about 1 mile west of Ashford, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Great Chart, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cover 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 14 miles away.
Parks such as Ashford Community Woodland have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary. Great Chart is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
For tapas catering in TN23, we plan around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include The Street, Toke Close and The Paddocks, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Great Chart, we cover Godinton (1 mile north-east), Chilmington Green (1 mile south-west), Stanhope (1 mile south-east), Ashford (1 mile east) and Fleeden (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in Canterbury (14 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles north), Folkestone (15 miles east), Faversham (12 miles north), Hythe (12 miles south-east) and Davington (12 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include County Square (1.6 miles east) and William Harvey Hospital (3.5 miles east). Not far away are Orlestone Forest.
- Local schools include John Wallis Academy (1.5 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Little Black Dog pub (less than half a mile north-west)
- 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