Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Hawthorn
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hawthorn: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Work receptions
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Hawthorn
Tapas catering for your event in Hawthorn
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. On the menu are Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española, and we’re regularly asked to cater birthday and anniversary parties and sharing tapas starters.
Near Hawthorn, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Collect dietary needs
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Add sangria or cava
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Tapas for events in Hawthorn
Hawthorn is about 2 miles east of Herne Bay, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Hawthorn will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. Hawthorn is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Hawthorn to Canterbury (7 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Herne Bay station, about 2.4 miles west. A picnic in Bishopstone Cliffs? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Here we cover the CT6 and CT3 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Campion Avenue, Sweechbridge Road and Heart in Hand Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Hawthorn sits on or near the A299, which makes travel to your event easy. If your venue is just outside Hawthorn, we also cover Hillborough (1 mile north-west), Highstead (1 mile south), Bishopstone (1 mile north), Broomfield (1 mile west) and Beltinge (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (7 miles south-west), Margate (9 miles east), Ramsgate (10 miles east), Broadstairs (11 miles east), Whitstable (6 miles west) and Deal (14 miles south-east).
A little further out are Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (5.4 miles west). Not far away are West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Pubs nearby include The Huntsman And Horn Public House (0.8 miles west)
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Perfect for your event in Hawthorn
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Hawthorn and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Work receptions
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- What happens if it rains
- If the price includes VAT
- Who provides the crockery
How the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening receptions in Hawthorn 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
Read more
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
What tapas catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many guests are eating
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many staff you need
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
Planning tapas catering in Hawthorn? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why book with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- A quote that spells everything out
- Fast service from the pan
- Drinks service on request
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Nearby places to Hawthorn
What else we do in Hawthorn
Common questions in Hawthorn
Do you come out to small places like Hawthorn?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Can you do sangria?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you are providing the drinks.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
- 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