Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hareplain, 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 turns food into part of your event in Hareplain.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing tapas starters
Tapas catering near Hareplain
How our tapas catering works in Hareplain
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. Whether it is engagement celebrations and tapas before paella, we will put together a menu of patatas bravas, padrón peppers and tortilla española.
Near Hareplain, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
The process
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, it’s light in Hareplain until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
How to prepare
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
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Common questions in Hareplain
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Is Hareplain too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How much does tapas catering cost in Hareplain?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including Kent. Find your area.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
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.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
More for events in Hareplain
How we price tapas catering
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The number of people
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- Your date and when you want to eat
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
What we need at the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work. The main points are:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Unloading access
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Hareplain
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
Live paella or other catering?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Fast service from the pan
- Events in Hareplain and across Kent
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Hareplain
Big or small, tapas work.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
- Drinks parties and receptions
Historic buildings near Hareplain often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- Travel and parking costs
- When payment is due
- Whether VAT is included
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Drinks receptions around Hareplain
Hareplain is about 10 miles south of Maidstone, in Kent. Events in Hareplain are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Hareplain is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Hareplain to Canterbury (about 23 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: Headcorn station is about 2.8 miles away. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Hareplain, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the TN27 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. We also cook at events in Three Chimneys (1 mile south-west), Biddenden (1 mile south-east), Curteis' Corner (1 mile east), Lashenden (2 miles north-east) and Standen (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (10 miles north), Ashford (11 miles east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles west), Tonbridge (15 miles west), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west) and Foley Park (11 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Kent Firefighting Museum (0.8 miles north) and Sissinghurst Castle (1.7 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include Three Chimneys Public House (0.6 miles south-west)
- 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