Medway · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Lower Rainham, Medway
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Lower Rainham and Medway, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement parties
Book tapas catering in Lower Rainham
How our tapas catering works in Lower Rainham
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. Typical bookings include sharing boards for evening guests and cocktail parties, serving Serrano ham, croquetas and tortilla española.
Near Lower Rainham, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Parking and unloading
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The number of people
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and time of the event
- The venue or postcode
- Which courses you have in mind
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Common questions in Lower Rainham
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Margaret: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Lower Rainham too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Do you provide serving staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more and we will advise.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including Medway. Find your area.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. Evening receptions in Lower Rainham stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Afterwards, we clear away.
Staff to serve canapés.
About the dishes
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Receptions and parties in Lower Rainham
Lower Rainham is about 2 miles east of Gillingham, in Medway. For tapas catering in Lower Rainham, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in all 68 towns and villages across Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Lower Rainham to Canterbury (about 21 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Rainham (Kent) station is about 0.7 miles away. If you are looking at a historic venue around Lower Rainham, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Lower Rainham is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over the ME8 postcode area. We can cater an event on streets such as West Motney Way, Motney Hill Road and Nuthatch Place or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Rainham (1 mile south), Moor Street (1 mile south-east), Upchurch (1 mile east), Meresborough (2 miles south) and Breach (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Chatham (4 miles west), Rochester (5 miles west), Strood (6 miles west), Luton (3 miles west), Lordswood (4 miles south-west) and Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Medway Maritime Hospital (3 miles west) and Upnor Castle (4.2 miles north-west). Not far away are Bishop Saltings.
- Local schools include Rainham Mark Grammar School (0.8 miles south-west) and Howard School (1.2 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Three Mariners pub (less than half a mile north-west)
Places near Lower Rainham
Also in Lower Rainham
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- No hidden extras in your quote
Who books tapas catering in Lower Rainham?
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
In Lower Rainham and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
Nearby historic houses include Restoration House (4.7 miles west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before booking anyone
- What the price includes, item by item
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Payment terms and deposit
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- 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