Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Kilndown events
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Kilndown and Kent, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Tapas before paella
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
Tapas catering in Kilndown
Tapas catering for your event in Kilndown
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. Typical bookings include welcome-drink canapés and tapas before paella, serving patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and croquetas.
Near Kilndown, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Kilndown: venues and local tips
Kilndown is about 8 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Anywhere in TN17, we can bring the pans to you. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. We cook right across the region, from Kilndown to Brighton (30 miles away).
Historic houses near Kilndown include Scotney Castle (0.8 miles west) and Wadhurst Castle (4.4 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Historic buildings near Kilndown often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Kilndown is within about 5 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Kent takes in TN17, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Church Road, Beresford Close and Chicks Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Kilndown, we also cover Riseden (1 mile north-east), Bedgebury Cross (1 mile east), Stonecrouch (1 mile south), Three Leg Cross (2 miles south) and Flimwell (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles north-west), Tonbridge (10 miles north-west), Kings Hill (13 miles north), Foley Park (14 miles north) and Paddock Wood (6 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Finchcocks Musical Museum (1 mile north) and Old Scotney Castle (0.6 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Bewl Water.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Access to unload near the serving area
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
Nearby places to Kilndown
Also in Kilndown
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
- The number of people
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and rough timings
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- We cover Kilndown and the whole of Kent
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A quote that spells everything out
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Check diets in advance
- Include staff for canapés
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Sangria and bar staff.
Why choose tapas catering in Kilndown?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing tapas starters
- Work receptions
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Christ Church.
Questions to ask before you book
- How bad weather is handled
- When payment is due
- If the price includes VAT
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Kilndown questions
Do you come out to small places like Kilndown?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s still served fresh. At midsummer, it’s light in Kilndown until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- 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 set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
- 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