Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Hicks Forstal
Planning tapas catering in Hicks Forstal? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Anniversary parties
Planning an event in Hicks Forstal?
About our tapas catering in Hicks Forstal
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. On the menu are albóndigas, patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo, and we’re frequently booked for tapas with a paella main course and evening sharing boards.
Near Hicks Forstal, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Why choose live paella in Hicks Forstal?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. 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.
What you get with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- We cover Hicks Forstal and the whole of Kent
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
What’s in the pans
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Hicks Forstal: your questions answered
Is Hicks Forstal too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Hicks Forstal for guests?
Sturry station, about 2.2 miles south of the centre.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Planning a tapas spread in Hicks Forstal
Hicks Forstal is about 2 miles south of Herne Bay, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Hicks Forstal and the surrounding area. We cater in 922 places across Kent.
A picnic in Curtis Wood? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. Guests travelling by rail: Sturry station is about 2.2 miles away. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of Kent takes in CT3, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. If your venue is just outside Hicks Forstal, we also cover Calcott (1 mile south-west), Herne Common (1 mile north), Knave's Ash (1 mile east), Herne (1 mile north) and Bullockstone (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (4 miles south-west), Margate (12 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east) and Whitstable (4 miles west).
A little further out are St Martins Hospital (3.9 miles south) and Canterbury Castle (4.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Hicks Forstal includes West Blean and Thornden Woods.
The process
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell usually draws people over. At midsummer, it’s light in Hicks Forstal until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know the timings for the day
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Serving boards and crockery.
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Unloading access
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Hicks Forstal
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
What affects the price in Hicks Forstal
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we are needed on site
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
- A photo of the space, if you can
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Also near Hicks Forstal
Also in Hicks Forstal
Planners, venues and businesses
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
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.
- 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