Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Ham, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Ham.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Launches and office parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Book tapas catering in Ham
Tapas catering in Ham, cooked live
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We’re frequently asked to cater table tapas as a starter and drinks parties and receptions, with croquetas, Serrano ham and patatas bravas.
In a rural spot like Ham, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Receptions and parties in Ham
Ham is about 3 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. Across the CT14 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Ham to Canterbury (about 11 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Ham, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. A picnic in Ham Fen? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. With the sea within about 4 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cook at events all over CT14 and the streets around it. If your venue is just outside Ham, we also cover Statenborough (1 mile north-west), Felderland (1 mile north), Worth (1 mile north-east), Marley (1 mile south-east) and Finglesham (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (11 miles west), Margate (10 miles north), Dover (8 miles south), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (7 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (9 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Sandown Castle (3.1 miles east) and The Precinct Toy Collection (2.1 miles north). Not far away are Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Schools near Ham include Sandwich Technology School (1.3 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Blue Pigeons pub (1 mile north-east)
Paella compared with other options
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. 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 will quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Ham
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Catering across Kent, including Ham
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
See Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Ham
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Sandwich station, about 1.7 miles north.
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- The wet-weather plan
- Whether VAT is included
- How each diet is kept separate
Questions from Ham
What’s the nearest station to Ham for guests?
The closest is Sandwich station, roughly 1.7 miles away.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St George: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. At midsummer, it is light in Ham until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Related guides
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Add sangria or cava
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
- Waiting and bar staff
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Ham? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Permission from the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Nearby places to Ham
Other catering in Ham
- 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