Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Kingsdown, Kent
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 Kingsdown.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Anniversary parties
- Launches and office parties
Planning an event in Kingsdown?
Tapas catering in Kingsdown, cooked live
We will recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. On the menu are albóndigas, tortilla española and croquetas, and typical bookings are for evening sharing boards and tapas with a paella main course.
Tapas make a party in Kingsdown easy and sociable. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
What affects the price in Kingsdown
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Timings and hours
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Places near Kingsdown
What else we do in Kingsdown
Kingsdown: venues and local tips
Kingsdown is about 2 miles south of Deal, in Kent. Across the CT14 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cook in 922 places across Kent. Our events stretch from Kingsdown to Canterbury (about 15 miles away).
Historic houses near Kingsdown include Walmer Castle (1 mile north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St. John the Evangelist. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
For tapas catering in CT14, we plan around your venue and timings. That could mean an event in a garden on King's Close, Clim Down and The Rise or the roads around them. For events just outside Kingsdown, we cover Ringwould (1 mile west), Martin Mill (2 miles south-west), Martin (2 miles west), Sutton (2 miles west) and St Margaret's at Cliffe (3 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (15 miles north-west), Margate (13 miles north), Dover (5 miles south-west), Folkestone (12 miles south-west), Ramsgate (11 miles north) and Broadstairs (12 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Royal Victoria Hospital (5.6 miles south-west) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (2.6 miles north).
- Local schools include Goodwin Academy (2 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include Kings Head pub (under half a mile south-east)
How the day works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. At midsummer, it is light in Kingsdown until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Give us a contact for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
Send us the date, your venue or CT14 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Read more
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Collect dietary needs
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Canapés need staff to serve
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Serving boards and crockery.
Kingsdown questions
Can you cater a reception after a service at St. John the Evangelist?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Kingsdown for guests?
Walmer station, about 1.3 miles north-west of the centre.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
How many tapas per person?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
Can we add drinks?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Paella compared with other options
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What you get with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Drinks service on request
Events we cater in Kingsdown
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
In Kingsdown and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas starters
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Walmer station, about 1.3 miles north-west.
Before booking anyone
- Staff numbers and hours
- The deadline for final numbers
- Payment terms and deposit
- How bad weather is handled
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
For event organisers in Kingsdown
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
- 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