Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hawley, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hawley. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing tapas starters
Live tapas catering in Hawley
How our tapas catering works in Hawley
We’ll suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, starter or main event. We cook patatas bravas, Serrano ham and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re frequently booked for engagement celebrations and birthday and anniversary parties.
In a rural spot like Hawley, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Occasions we cook for in Hawley
They work for any size of event.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Hawley and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement drinks
Historic houses near Hawley include Hall Place and Gardens (3.3 miles north-west) and Lullingstone Castle (4.6 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- How each diet is kept separate
- The venue requirements
- Who provides the crockery
Towns and villages near Hawley
Also in Hawley
FAQs for Hawley
What’s the nearest station to Hawley for guests?
Farningham Road station, about 1.5 miles south of the centre.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Hawley.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Hawley stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Permission from the venue
- Space on each table
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Hawley
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many staff you need
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
- Travel, parking and access
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
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.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Label seafood clearly
Tapas go out to the tables.
Add a live paella main.
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
For event organisers in Hawley
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planning a tapas spread in Hawley
Hawley is about 1 mile south of Dartford, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the DA2 area, we can bring the pans to you. Hawley is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Hawley to London (about 15 miles away).
Parks such as Darenth Country Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St John the Baptist. Hawley is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in DA2, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Ash Road, May Road and Shirehall Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Close by, we cover events in Clement Street (1 mile south-west), Sutton at Hone (1 mile south-east), Darenth (1 mile east), Dartford (1 mile north) and St Margarets (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Sevenoaks (10 miles south), Gravesend (7 miles east), Northfleet (5 miles east), Swanley (3 miles south-west), Kings Hill (13 miles south-east) and Swanscombe (3 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Bluewater (2.4 miles north-east) and Darenth Park Hospital (1.7 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Wansunt Pit and Sawyers Lake.
- Schools near Hawley include Leigh Academy (1.2 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Four Lymes pub (less than half a mile north)
- 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