Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Hildenborough
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hildenborough and the surrounding area.
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering near Hildenborough
Tapas catering in Hildenborough, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. We are often asked to cater anniversary parties and sharing boards for evening guests, serving patatas bravas, tortilla española and albóndigas.
Near Hildenborough, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Check diets in advance
- Label seafood clearly
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Spanish desserts to finish.
How the day works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Sunset in Hildenborough is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Planning tapas catering in Hildenborough? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Hildenborough
- Events in Hildenborough and across Kent
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Unloading access
- Venue approval for outside catering
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
Towns and villages near Hildenborough
Also in Hildenborough
Hildenborough: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Haysden Country Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
We are having a ceremony at Parish Church of St John: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Absolutely.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Perfect for your event in Hildenborough
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas before paella
- Birthday drinks
- Work receptions
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Hildenborough, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- A clear list of what’s included
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- VAT, if it applies
Drinks receptions around Hildenborough
Hildenborough is about 2 miles north-west of Tonbridge, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Hildenborough, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cook in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is London, about 24 miles away.
Historic houses near Hildenborough include Ightham Mote (3 miles north) and Knole House (3.7 miles north-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hildenborough station, about 0.7 miles west.
Wherever your event is in TN11, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Church Road, London Road and Mount Pleasant; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the B245, Hildenborough is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Stocks Green (1 mile south-west), Hilden Park (1 mile south-east), Watt's Cross (1 mile north-west), Coldharbour (1 mile north-east) and Budds (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles east), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles south), Swanley (13 miles north), Kings Hill (8 miles north-east) and Foley Park (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include The Milne Museum (1.8 miles south-east) and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (3 miles south-east). Not far away are Barden Lake and Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve.
- Local schools include Hilden Grange School (1.5 miles south-east) and Hugh Christie Technology College (1.8 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Flying Dutchman Public House (within half a mile south-east)
- 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