Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Hales Place events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Hales Place. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Tapas before paella
- Table tapas as a starter
- Launches and office parties
Book tapas catering in Hales Place
Hales Place: venues and local tips
Hales Place is about 1 mile north of Canterbury, in Kent. Events in Hales Place are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Hales Place is one of 922 places in Kent we cover.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Stephen, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Hales Place, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The coast is within about 6 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cater events across CT2 and CT1. Your event could be at a home on Downs Road, Godden Road and Tunstall Road. Other places close to Hales Place for tapas catering include Canterbury (1 mile south), Harbledown (1 mile south-west), Rough Common (1 mile west), Wincheap (2 miles south) and Upper Harbledown (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (14 miles south-west), Margate (14 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles west), Folkestone (15 miles south) and Ramsgate (15 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Whitefriars Shopping Centre (1.2 miles south) and Canterbury Castle (1.4 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Archbishop's School (less than half a mile south-west) and St Edmund's School (0.9 miles west)
- Local pubs include Ye Olde Beverlie Inn (within half a mile south)
How our tapas catering works in Hales Place
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings in and around Hales Place. We are often asked to cater birthday drinks and office parties and launches, serving gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and padrón peppers.
In Hales Place, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Hales Place: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Stephen?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Hales Place?
The closest is Canterbury West station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
How the day works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell typically draws people over. Evening receptions in Hales Place stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell 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 pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
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Nearby places to Hales Place
What else we do in Hales Place
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- A quote that spells everything out
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Working with your venue
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Parking and unloading
- Timings and hours
- Waiting and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Where the event is
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space on each table
- Access to unload near the serving area
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Add sangria or cava
- Collect dietary needs
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
- 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