Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Marley, Kent
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Marley: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Launches and office parties
- Engagement parties
Planning an event in Marley?
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Tapas catering in Marley, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. We cook Manchego with membrillo, albóndigas and croquetas, and we’re frequently booked for tapas starters and launches and office parties.
Near Marley, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Add sangria or cava
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Each dish is labelled.
Staff to serve canapés.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Other catering in Marley
Receptions and parties in Marley
Marley is about 7 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Marley or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Marley is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. Our events stretch from Marley to Canterbury (about 17 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Leeds Castle (2.5 miles west) and Stoneacre (4.7 miles west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. After a ceremony at a church such as St John the Baptist's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Marley is within about 3 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in ME17, we can bring tapas catering to you. Your event could be at a home on Parks Road, Young Lane and Church Lane or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Harrietsham (1 mile west), Pollhill (1 mile west), Sandway (1 mile south-east), Platt's Heath (1 mile south) and Chegworth (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (7 miles west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (7 miles north), Faversham (10 miles north-east), Minster (13 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (12 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Leeds Castle (2.5 miles west) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.4 miles west).
- Schools near Marley include The Lenham School (1.1 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Roebuck Public House (0.5 miles west)
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- The date and rough timings
- Which courses you have in mind
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Marley: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Marley?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Marley for guests?
Harrietsham station, about 0.6 miles west of the centre.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Marley.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Paella compared with other options
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Events in Marley and across Kent
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
Events we cater in Marley
Tapas are sociable food.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday drinks
- Engagement drinks
- Office parties and launches
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Harrietsham station, about 0.6 miles west.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- When final numbers are due
- What happens if it rains
- Staff numbers and hours
The process
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. At midsummer, it’s light in Marley until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Marley, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
- 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