Medway · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Lower Upnor, Medway
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Lower Upnor and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Work receptions
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Planning an event in Lower Upnor?
Tapas catering for your event in Lower Upnor
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We’re often asked to cater sharing boards for evening guests and drinks parties and receptions, serving padrón peppers, albóndigas and croquetas.
Near Lower Upnor, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
Who books tapas catering in Lower Upnor?
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Lower Upnor, people book us for occasions like:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Evening grazing
- Tapas before paella
After a ceremony at a church such as St Philip & St James, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before booking anyone
- How long the team stays
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The wet-weather plan
- How each diet is kept separate
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Common questions in Lower Upnor
Do you come out to small places like Lower Upnor?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Could we have live paella in Lower Lines Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do you cater in Lower Upnor?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Lower Upnor. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Nearby places to Lower Upnor
Other catering in Lower Upnor
How it works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Sunset in Lower Upnor is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Canapés need staff to serve
Afterwards, we clear away.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Live paella or other catering?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- No hidden extras in your quote
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Lower Upnor: venues and local tips
Lower Upnor is about 2 miles north-east of Rochester, in Medway. For an event in Lower Upnor, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cater in all 68 towns and villages across Medway. We cook right across the region, from Lower Upnor to Canterbury (about 26 miles away).
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Lower Upnor, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Historic houses near Lower Upnor include Restoration House (2 miles south-west) and Temple Manor (2.3 miles south-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
This part of Medway takes in ME2, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Galleon Way, Cutter Close and Schooner Walk or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Nearby, we also cater events in Upper Upnor (1 mile south-west), Chattenden (1 mile north), Wainscott (1 mile west), Hoo St Werburgh (2 miles north-east) and Cooling Street (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (3 miles south-east), Chatham (4 miles south), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Strood (3 miles south-west), Luton (3 miles south) and Park Wood (5 miles south-east).
A little further out are Huguenot Museum (1.8 miles south-west) and City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Rede Common and Gad's Hill.
- Schools near Lower Upnor include The Hundred of Hoo Academy (1.2 miles north-east) and Waterfront University Technical College (1.3 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Ship pub (within half a mile east)
- Local facilities include Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf (1.8 miles south)
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Room for a tapas table
- Permission from the venue
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- 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