Kent · England
Tapas Catering for New Barn events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in New Barn.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement celebrations
Live tapas catering in New Barn
Tapas catering for your event in New Barn
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. We are frequently asked to cater work receptions and anniversary parties, with padrón peppers, patatas bravas and albóndigas.
Tapas make a party in New Barn easy and sociable. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
Paella compared with other options
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Catering across Kent, including New Barn
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
About the dishes
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
Common questions in New Barn
Which station should guests use for New Barn?
Longfield station, about 1.2 miles west of the centre.
We are having a ceremony at Church of Saint Mary Magdalene: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Kent included. Find your area.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
Step by step
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. At midsummer, it is light in New Barn until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. 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 hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
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
Places near New Barn
Also in New Barn
Drinks receptions around New Barn
New Barn is about 3 miles south of Northfleet, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the DA3 area, we can bring the pans to you. New Barn is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 20 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Longfield station, about 1.2 miles west. Parks such as Rectory Meadow have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of New Barn, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the DA3 and DA13 postcode area. Streets in the area include The Maples, Kenwood Avenue and Merileys Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside New Barn, we also cover Longfield Hill (1 mile south-east), Longfield (1 mile west), Hartley (1 mile south-west), Nash Street (1 mile east) and Meopham (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (12 miles south-east), Dartford (6 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (10 miles south-west), Gravesend (3 miles north-east), Tonbridge (14 miles south) and Northfleet (3 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Gravesham Museum (3.6 miles north-east) and Stone Castle (3.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near New Barn include Sawyers Lake.
- Local schools include Istead Rise Primary School (1 mile north-east)
Perfect for your event in New Barn
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
- Tapas starters
- Tapas and paella menus
Nearby historic houses include Cobham College (3.1 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Before you book anyone
- Travel and parking costs
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How bad weather is handled
- How each diet is kept separate
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Add a live paella main.
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in New Barn? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Space for a serving table or station
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- 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