Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Labour-in-vain, 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 Labour-in-vain.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Sharing tapas starters
Tapas catering for Labour-in-vain events
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer drinks reception in Labour-in-vain has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Planning tapas catering in Labour-in-vain? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Tapas catering for your event in Labour-in-vain
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Typical bookings include sharing tapas starters and launches and office parties, serving albóndigas, patatas bravas and Serrano ham.
In a rural spot like Labour-in-vain, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Planning a tapas spread in Labour-in-vain
Labour-in-vain is about 6 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Labour-in-vain or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 922 places in Kent. You can also see our page for London, about 21 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Labour-in-vain, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St George, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Labour-in-vain is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
For tapas catering in TN15, we plan around your venue. Close by, we cover events in Wrotham (1 mile south), Fairseat (1 mile north-east), Hodsoll Street (2 miles north-east), Trottiscliffe (2 miles east) and Culverstone Green (3 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (10 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Sevenoaks (6 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (8 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (8 miles south).
A little further out are Beechin Wood Archery Museum (2.7 miles south-east) and Sevenoaks Hospital (5.1 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include The George And Dragon Public House (0.8 miles south)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Labour-in-vain: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at Church of St George: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
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.
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.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Are the tapas fresh?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Do you provide serving staff?
Staff make canapés work, which we can supply.
Live paella or other catering?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why book with us
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- A clear, itemised quote
- Catering across Kent, including Labour-in-vain
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Add sangria or cava
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Staff to serve canapés.
Perfect for your event in Labour-in-vain
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Labour-in-vain:
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks reception canapés
- Work receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
A picnic in Trosley Country Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- How long the team stays
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How each diet is kept separate
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Permission from the venue
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space to finish hot dishes
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Labour-in-vain
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
What affects the price in Labour-in-vain
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The venue or postcode
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Places near Labour-in-vain
Also in Labour-in-vain
- 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