Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Hockenden events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Hockenden.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering for Hockenden events
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
About our tapas catering in Hockenden
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Whether it is launches and office parties and tapas before paella, we can cook patatas bravas, albóndigas and Serrano ham and more.
In a rural spot like Hockenden, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Why choose live paella in Hockenden?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Drinks receptions around Hockenden
Hockenden is about 2 miles north-east of Orpington, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Hockenden will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 13 miles away.
Historic houses near Hockenden include Hall Place and Gardens (3.2 miles north) and Lullingstone Castle (3.6 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. After a ceremony at a church such as St Mary the Virgin, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Hockenden is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in BR8, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Close by, we cover events in Upper Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Stonehill Green (1 mile north-east), Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Puddledock (2 miles north-east) and Hextable (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Dartford (4 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (8 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles east), Tonbridge (15 miles south), Northfleet (9 miles east) and Kings Hill (14 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include London Borough of Bromley Museum (2.6 miles south-west) and Eynsford Castle (3.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Hockenden include The Warren and Summer Hill.
- Local schools include Orchards Academy (0.9 miles south-east)
What tapas catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- The length of service
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- The date and rough timings
- What the venue already provides
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Hockenden? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Nearby places to Hockenden
Other catering in Hockenden
Before you choose a spot
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you. The main points are:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Permission from the venue
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Add sangria or cava
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Staff to serve canapés.
The process
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests typically gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Sunset in Hockenden is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
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 fill in our quote form.
Read more
Common questions in Hockenden
Could we have live paella in Foots Cray Meadows?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
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 follow the site rules.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Hockenden.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
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, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
Why choose tapas catering in Hockenden?
They work for any size of event.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Evening grazing
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas before paella
- Canapés with welcome drinks
If you are looking at a historic venue around Hockenden, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What to look for in a quote
- The wet-weather plan
- The deposit and payment dates
- How late numbers can change
- A clear list of what’s included
- 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