Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Ightham
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Ightham: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Birthday drinks
- Work receptions
Tapas catering near Ightham
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Space on each table
- Space for a serving table or station
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Ightham
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
About our tapas catering in Ightham
Sangria and bar staff can be added, for a complete drinks and tapas package. We are frequently asked to cater birthday drinks and evening sharing boards, serving albóndigas, tortilla española and gambas al ajillo.
Near Ightham, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
For event organisers in Ightham
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Ightham: venues and local tips
Ightham is about 4 miles east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Ightham will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Ightham is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for London, about 22 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Peter. Historic buildings near Ightham frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Ightham is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in TN15, we can bring tapas catering to you. Whether your event is on The Street, Redwell Lane and Old Lane or a nearby road, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Ightham, we also cover Oldbury (1 mile north), Ivy Hatch (1 mile south-west), Sheet Hill (1 mile south-east), Styants Bottom (1 mile north-west) and Yopps Green (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (11 miles east), Dartford (12 miles north), Sevenoaks (4 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles south), Gravesend (11 miles north) and Tonbridge (6 miles south).
A little further out are Ightham Court (1.1 miles north) and Beechin Wood Archery Museum (2.3 miles east).
- Schools near Ightham include Wrotham School (1.9 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Old House (under half a mile north-west)
Who books tapas catering in Ightham?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement parties
- Evening sharing boards
Historic houses near Ightham include Ightham Mote (1.5 miles south) and Old Soar Manor (2.1 miles south-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Comparing caterers
- How long the team stays
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The venue requirements
The process
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. A summer drinks reception in Ightham has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm 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.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
Why choose live paella in Ightham?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Ightham hosts choose us
- We cover Ightham and the whole of Kent
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Nearby places to Ightham
Also in Ightham
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Serving boards and crockery.
Ightham: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Ightham?
Borough Green & Wrotham station, about 1.5 miles north-east of the centre.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Peter: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
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.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Ightham.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
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 cook a gluten-free paella separately.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
- 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