Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Marden
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Marden. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Cocktail parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Live tapas catering in Marden
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Check diets in advance
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Tapas catering for your event in Marden
We will recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. Typical bookings include engagement drinks and evening grazing, serving tortilla española, albóndigas and croquetas.
In Marden, tapas work at home or in a local hall. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Organising a club, school or community event in Marden? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evening receptions in Marden stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- 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 clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Parking near the venue
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
Perfect for your event in Marden
Big or small, tapas work.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Anniversary parties
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Evening sharing boards
After a ceremony at a church such as St Michael and All Angels Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
- The venue requirements
Also in Marden
Marden: your questions answered
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Michael and All Angels Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Are the tapas served hot?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Of course. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Do you cook inside?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Marden: venues and local tips
Marden is about 7 miles south of Maidstone, in Kent. For an event in Marden, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Marden. Marden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from Marden to Canterbury (about 27 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Marden has its own station, Marden station. Historic buildings near Marden often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Marden is within about 6 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cover events in every part of the TN12 postcode area and the streets around it. Streets in the area include High Street, The Old Market and Rookery Court, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Close by, we cover events in Marden Beech (1 mile south-west), Claygate (2 miles west), Pearson's Green (3 miles west), Brandfold (3 miles south-west) and Capel Cross (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (7 miles north), Sevenoaks (15 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles west), Tonbridge (9 miles west), Kings Hill (8 miles north-west) and Foley Park (8 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include South East Romany Museum (0.9 miles east).
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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 be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Live paella or other catering?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- A quote that spells everything out
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
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