Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Maypole, Kent
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Maypole.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering in Maypole
Tapas catering in Maypole, made fresh on the day
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas in and around Maypole. Typical bookings include engagement celebrations and tapas with a paella main course, with albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española.
In a rural spot like Maypole, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Check diets in advance
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Events we cater in Maypole
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Maypole, people book us for events such as:
- Engagement celebrations
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Evening grazing
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of the Holy Cross.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- Payment terms and deposit
- Who provides the crockery
- What happens if it rains
Why choose live paella in Maypole?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why Maypole hosts choose us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Catering across Kent, including Maypole
- A clear, itemised quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Planning the cooking area
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- A spot for our serving station
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
Places near Maypole
Other catering in Maypole
Your questions about tapas catering in Maypole
What’s the nearest station to Maypole for guests?
Herne Bay station, about 2.6 miles north-west of the centre.
We are having a ceremony at Church of the Holy Cross: 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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Maypole.
For planners, venues and organisers
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The length of service
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The venue or postcode
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
- Anything your venue supplies
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.
How the day works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. A summer drinks reception in Maypole has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Maypole? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
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.
Planning a tapas spread in Maypole
Maypole is about 2 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Maypole will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. Maypole is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook.
Parks such as Curtis Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Guests travelling by rail: Herne Bay station is about 2.6 miles away. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Here we cover the CT3 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Maypole Lane and Maypole Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Old Tree (1 mile east), Millbank (1 mile north), Hoath (1 mile south), Knave's Ash (1 mile south-west) and Highstead (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (5 miles south-west), Margate (10 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Ramsgate (11 miles east), Broadstairs (12 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles west).
A little further out are St Martins Hospital (4.9 miles south-west). Open spaces near Maypole include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Schools near Maypole include Spires Academy (2.1 miles south)
- 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