Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Grove Green, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Grove Green. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
- Birthday drinks
Live tapas catering in Grove Green
Tapas catering for your event in Grove Green
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. We cook albóndigas, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater office parties and launches and evening sharing boards.
Around Grove Green, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
What’s in the pans
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
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. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Catering across Kent, including Grove Green
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Grove Green questions
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 Grove Green close to London?
About 32 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Plenty are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Nearby places to Grove Green
What else we do in Grove Green
What affects the price in Grove Green
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- How long we are needed on site
- How many guests are eating
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
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
To check availability and price, we need:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The date and rough timings
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Grove Green, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Occasions we cook for in Grove Green
Big or small, tapas work.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
- Launches and office parties
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Luke, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- When final numbers are due
- Payment terms and deposit
- If the price includes VAT
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room for a tapas table
- Unloading access
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
Receptions and parties in Grove Green
Grove Green is about 1 mile east of Foley Park, in Kent. Events in Grove Green are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 23 miles away.
Parks such as Vinters Valley Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Grove Green, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Grove Green, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
For tapas catering in ME14, we plan around your venue and your guests. We can cater an event on streets such as New Cut Road, Hampton Road and Bargrove Road or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Penenden Heath (1 mile west), Weavering (1 mile south-east), Foley Park (1 mile west), Harbourland (1 mile north-west) and Detling (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Sittingbourne (9 miles north-east), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Tonbridge (13 miles south-west), Faversham (15 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include KIMS hospital (less than half a mile north-east) and Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum (1.4 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Burham Down and Detling Hill.
- Nearby schools include Valley Park School (0.8 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find Bell Inn (0.9 miles south-east)
The process
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. At midsummer, it’s light in Grove Green until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
- 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