Medway · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Lordswood, Medway
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Lordswood. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
Live tapas catering in Lordswood
About our tapas catering in Lordswood
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. Typical bookings include tapas with a paella main course and engagement drinks, with Manchego with membrillo, patatas bravas and Serrano ham.
In Lordswood, tapas work at home or in a local hall. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Where we can cook in Lordswood
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Unloading access
- Space on each table
- Space for a serving table or station
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
Places near Lordswood
Also in Lordswood
What affects the price in Lordswood
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The length of service
- Whether you need crockery
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, often with alioli.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Lordswood: venues and local tips
Lordswood is about 2 miles south of Chatham, in Medway. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Lordswood. We cook in 68 places across Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Lordswood to Canterbury (24 miles away).
A picnic in South Wood? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. Historic houses near Lordswood include Restoration House (3.9 miles north-west) and Starkey Castle (4.1 miles north-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Lordswood, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cater events across the ME5 and ME7 postcode area. Whether your event is on Hall Road, Rover Road and Gould Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Lidsing (1 mile south-east), Walderslade (1 mile west), Dunn Street (1 mile south-east), Bredhurst (1 mile east) and Hempstead (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gillingham (3 miles north-east), Rochester (4 miles north-west), Rainham (3 miles north-east), Strood (5 miles north-west), Twydall (3 miles north-east) and Hoo St Werburgh (6 miles north). As one of the bigger places in Medway, Lordswood has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Nearby you will also find Pentagon Shopping Centre (3.4 miles north) and Medway Maritime Hospital (3 miles north). The countryside around Lordswood includes Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Schools near Lordswood include Greenacre Academy (1.3 miles north-west) and Walderslade Girls' School (1.4 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Harrow pub (0.9 miles east)
What happens on the day
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Sunset in Lordswood is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Include staff for canapés
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Ask for labels on each dish
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Questions from Lordswood
Can you cater a reception after a service at St David's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Lordswood?
Chatham station, about 3.2 miles north of the centre.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you cook inside?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Paella compared with other options
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why choose Love Paella in Lordswood
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Fast service from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
- 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