Medway · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hale, Medway
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hale and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Work receptions
Live tapas catering in Hale
Tapas catering in Hale, cooked live
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. On the menu are patatas bravas, croquetas and tortilla española, and we’re regularly asked to cater table tapas as a starter and work receptions.
In a rural spot like Hale, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Hale questions
Is Hale close to London?
About 30 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Is Hale too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
How much tapas do we need?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Drinks receptions around Hale
Hale is about 1 mile south-west of Gillingham, in Medway. For tapas catering in Hale, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Hale is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 23 miles away.
Historic houses near Hale include Restoration House (2.7 miles north-west) and Temple Manor (3.4 miles north-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. If you are looking at a historic venue around Hale, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Hale, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in ME5, we can cook for your guests. For events just outside Hale, we cover Darland (1 mile south-east), Capstone (1 mile south-east), Luton (1 mile north-west), Gillingham (1 mile north-east) and Chatham (1 mile south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Rochester (3 miles north-west), Strood (4 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west), Peters Village (4 miles west) and Frindsbury (3 miles north-west).
A little further out are Rochester Castle (2.9 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Hale includes Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
- Schools near Hale include Chatham Grammar School for Girls (0.8 miles north) and The Robert Napier School (1 mile north)
- Pubs nearby include The Star pub (0.7 miles north-east)
- Local facilities include Chatham Free Library (1.4 miles north-west)
What else we do in Hale
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests normally gather round to watch while it cooks. Sunset in Hale is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Related guides
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
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.
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Collect dietary needs
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Canapés need staff to serve
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Bar staff and sangria.
What affects the price in Hale
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Timings and hours
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Unloading access
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space for a serving table or station
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
Who books tapas catering in Hale?
They work for any size of event.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Engagement celebrations
- Launches and office parties
- Tapas starters
- Birthday drinks
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Christ Church.
What your quote should include
- Whether VAT is included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deposit and payment dates
- How long the team stays
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
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.
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
- 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