Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Hastingleigh
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Hastingleigh. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas and paella menus
- Work receptions
Live tapas catering in Hastingleigh
Planning a tapas spread in Hastingleigh
Hastingleigh is about 6 miles east of Ashford, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Hastingleigh will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Hastingleigh is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from Hastingleigh to Canterbury (9 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Parks such as Spong Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Hastingleigh is within about 3 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cater events across the TN25 postcode area. Local streets include The Street, Becket's Close and Tamley Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside Hastingleigh, we cover Folly Town (1 mile west), Hassell Street (1 mile north), Brook (2 miles west), Brabourne (2 miles south) and Bircholt Forstal (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (6 miles west), Canterbury (9 miles north-east), Dover (13 miles east), Folkestone (9 miles south-east), Whitstable (13 miles north) and Faversham (11 miles north-west).
A little further out are William Harvey Hospital (3.9 miles south-west). The countryside around Hastingleigh includes Hatch Park.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Bowl Inn (under half a mile west)
Tapas catering for your event in Hastingleigh
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. We are frequently asked to cater engagement celebrations and tapas and paella menus, with albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and Serrano ham.
Near Hastingleigh, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Where we can cook in Hastingleigh
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space on each table
- Permission from the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Hastingleigh
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
Nearby places to Hastingleigh
More for events in Hastingleigh
Common questions in Hastingleigh
How far is Hastingleigh from London?
About 52 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you cook in Spong Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How much tapas do we need?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
How it works
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Evening receptions in Hastingleigh 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.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
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Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The number of people
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Which courses you have in mind
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Events we cater in Hastingleigh
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
Guests travelling by rail: Wye station is about 3.2 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the price includes, item by item
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- How bad weather is handled
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Label seafood clearly
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Tell us what role tapas play
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Planners, venues and businesses
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Why choose live paella in Hastingleigh?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Hastingleigh
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- 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