Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Istead Rise, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Istead Rise and across Kent.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering near Istead Rise
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. Evening receptions in Istead Rise stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Give us a contact for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Send us the date, your venue or DA13 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
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Tapas catering in Istead Rise, made fresh on the day
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Popular choices include Manchego with membrillo, padrón peppers and patatas bravas, and typical bookings are for table tapas as a starter and launches and office parties.
Near Istead Rise, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We plan the timings around your day, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Istead Rise: venues and local tips
Istead Rise is about 2 miles south of Northfleet, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the DA13 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cater in 922 places in Kent. Our nearest city page is London, about 20 miles away.
Parks such as Jeskyns have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Istead Rise, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
For tapas catering in DA13, we plan around your venue and timings. That could mean an event in a garden on Elwill Way, Lesley Close and Upper Avenue. For events just outside Istead Rise, we cover Northfleet Green (1 mile north-west), Singlewell or Ifield (1 mile north-east), Southfleet (1 mile north-west), Painters Ash (1 mile north) and Henhurst (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (12 miles south-east), Dartford (6 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles south-west), Tonbridge (15 miles south), Swanley (8 miles west) and Kings Hill (9 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Gravesham Museum (2.7 miles north) and Stone Castle (4.1 miles north-west). The countryside around Istead Rise includes Sawyers Lake and Gad's Hill.
- Nearby schools include Saint George's Church of England School (1.7 miles north)
Towns and villages near Istead Rise
More for events in Istead Rise
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and generally vegetarian.
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why book with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
Organising for someone else?
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Questions from Istead Rise
Could we have live paella in Jeskyns?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
What’s the nearest station to Istead Rise for guests?
Meopham station, about 1.3 miles south of the centre.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll help you decide the split.
Do you provide serving staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Do you cover Istead Rise?
We do. Istead Rise is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Label seafood clearly
- Include staff for canapés
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Who books tapas catering in Istead Rise?
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Istead Rise and Kent:
- Work receptions
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Cobham College (2.3 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- If the price includes VAT
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
- 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