Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Lower Hardres events
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 makes the food a highlight of your event in Lower Hardres.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Engagement drinks
- Birthday drinks
Tapas catering in Lower Hardres
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Lower Hardres? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
About our tapas catering in Lower Hardres
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. Popular choices include tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and croquetas, and we are regularly asked to cater birthday and anniversary parties and cocktail parties.
In a rural spot like Lower Hardres, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it’s light in Lower Hardres until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Read more
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Larger events normally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
Read How we price And The cost guide.
Lower Hardres questions
What’s the nearest station to Lower Hardres for guests?
The closest is Canterbury East station, roughly 2.7 miles away.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
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. Send us the reception address.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Add sangria or cava
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Nearby places to Lower Hardres
Other catering in Lower Hardres
Where we can cook in Lower Hardres
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A spot for our serving station
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space to finish hot dishes
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Lower Hardres
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Who books tapas catering in Lower Hardres?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
In Lower Hardres and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Engagement drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Cocktail parties
- Evening sharing boards
Historic buildings near Lower Hardres often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Before booking anyone
- The deposit and payment dates
- Space, access and power needs
- Allergen information for each dish
- How long the team stays
What affects the price in Lower Hardres
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning a tapas spread in Lower Hardres
Lower Hardres is about 3 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. For tapas catering in Lower Hardres, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Canterbury East station, about 2.7 miles north. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Lower Hardres, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the CT4 postcode area. We also cook at events in Street End (1 mile north), Pett Bottom (1 mile south-east), Nackington (1 mile north), Upper Hardres (1 mile south) and Petham (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (3 miles north), Dover (12 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south), Whitstable (8 miles north) and Deal (14 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Kent and Canterbury Hospital (2.2 miles north) and Whitefriars Shopping Centre (2.9 miles north). The countryside around Lower Hardres includes Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Local pubs include The Duck pub (0.8 miles south-east)
- 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