Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hampton, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hampton and the surrounding area.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Hampton
About our tapas catering in Hampton
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. We are frequently asked to cater engagement parties and tapas before paella, with tortilla española, albóndigas and Serrano ham.
Tapas make a party in Hampton easy and sociable. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
What tapas catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Your choice of paellas
- The length of service
- 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.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Which courses you have in mind
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Make sure dishes are labelled
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Sangria and bar staff.
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Paella compared with other options
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Hampton hosts choose us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
The process
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. A summer drinks reception in Hampton has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Room for a tapas table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
Your questions about tapas catering in Hampton
We are having a ceremony at St Andrew's Church: 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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Hampton close to London?
About 52 miles from central London, and well within our area.
How much does tapas catering cost in Hampton?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we’ll reply with a price.
What about pudding?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
How many paellas should we have?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Hampton: venues and local tips
Hampton is about 2 miles west of Herne Bay, in Kent. For tapas catering in Hampton, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover 922 places in Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 6 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Herne Bay station, about 1 mile south-east. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Hampton, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. With the sea within about 2 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Anywhere in CT6, we can cook for your guests. Whether your event is on Riley Avenue, Essex Avenue and Alvis Avenue or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Swalecliffe (2 miles south-west), West End (2 miles south), Chestfield (2 miles south-west), Tankerton (2 miles west) and Radfall (3 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (6 miles south), Margate (12 miles east), Ramsgate (14 miles east), Broadstairs (14 miles east), Faversham (10 miles south-west) and Minster (13 miles west).
Nearby you will also find Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (2.2 miles west) and Tankerton Castle (2.8 miles west). The countryside around Hampton includes West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Local schools include Herne Bay High School (0.9 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include Hampton Inn (under half a mile north-east)
Occasions we cook for in Hampton
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Hampton, people book us for occasions like:
- Engagement drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Birthday drinks
- Work receptions
After a ceremony at a church such as St Andrew's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before you book anyone
- How bad weather is handled
- Payment terms and deposit
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
Places near Hampton
What else we do in Hampton
- 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