Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Lydd-on-Sea events
Planning tapas catering in Lydd-on-Sea? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement drinks
Planning an event in Lydd-on-Sea?
Tapas catering in Lydd-on-Sea, cooked live
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. On the menu are patatas bravas, croquetas and padrón peppers, and we are regularly asked to cater sharing boards for evening guests and welcome-drink canapés.
Near Lydd-on-Sea, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Parking near the venue
- Space on each table
- Permission from the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
Towns and villages near Lydd-on-Sea
Also in Lydd-on-Sea
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Check diets in advance
- Tell us what role tapas play
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Staff to serve canapés.
Paella compared with other options
For food that gets people mingling, tapas work brilliantly. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
How we price tapas catering
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The length of service
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. A summer drinks reception in Lydd-on-Sea has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Perfect for your event in Lydd-on-Sea
They work for any size of event.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Lydd-on-Sea, people book us for occasions like:
- Work receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement drinks
- Anniversary parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Peter's.
Comparing caterers
- Space, access and power needs
- The deadline for final numbers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Travel and parking costs
Planning a tapas spread in Lydd-on-Sea
Lydd-on-Sea is about 10 miles south-west of Hythe, in Kent. Anywhere in TN29, we will come to your venue or garden. We cater in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Lydd-on-Sea to Canterbury (23 miles away).
Historic buildings near Lydd-on-Sea often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
This part of Kent takes in TN29 and TN28, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Taylor Road, Lade Fort Crescent and Williamson Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Lydd-on-Sea, we also cover Greatstone-on-Sea (2 miles north), Dungeness (2 miles south), Littlestone-on-Sea (2 miles north), Lydd (2 miles west) and New Romney (3 miles north). Larger places within reach include Ashford (14 miles north), Folkestone (13 miles north-east), Hythe (10 miles north-east), Hawkinge (14 miles north-east), Tenterden (15 miles north-west) and Cheriton (12 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Romney 'castle' (4.2 miles north-west) and Lydd Town Museum (2.5 miles west). The countryside around Lydd-on-Sea includes Dungeness National and Burnthouse Pen.
Questions from Lydd-on-Sea
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Peter's?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
How far is Lydd-on-Sea from London?
Roughly 60 miles from the centre of London.
Which areas do you serve?
We cater across London and the South East, including Kent. Find your area.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
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.
- 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