Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Oare, Kent
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Oare: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Launches and office parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas starters
Live tapas catering in Oare
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Tapas catering in Oare, cooked live
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. We cook Serrano ham, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo, and typical bookings are for receptions and drinks parties and engagement celebrations.
For a country party near Oare, tapas and sangria set the mood. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Also in Oare
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Guest numbers
- Waiting and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- The length of service
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The date and time of the event
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, use our quote form.
Working with your venue
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
How the day works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Oare has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Unloading access
- Room for a tapas table
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Events in Oare and across Kent
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Common questions in Oare
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter?
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. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook in Oare Meadow?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Include staff for canapés
- Add sangria or cava
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Planning a tapas spread in Oare
Oare is about 1 mile north of Faversham, in Kent. Across the ME13 area, we can bring the pans to you. Oare is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 9 miles away.
A picnic in Oare Meadow? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Historic houses near Oare include Belmont House and Gardens (4.3 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Here we cover the ME13 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. From The Street, Church Road and Russell Place or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Close by, we cover events in Davington (1 mile south), The Brents (1 mile south-east), Uplees (1 mile north-west), Faversham (1 mile south) and Four Oaks (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (13 miles south), Canterbury (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (6 miles west), Whitstable (7 miles east), Herne Bay (11 miles east) and Minster (7 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Newnham Castle (4.5 miles south-west).
- Nearby schools include Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (1.2 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you will find Three Mariners Inn (less than half a mile south)
Occasions we cook for in Oare
They’re the classic starter before paella.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Oare:
- Work receptions
- Sharing tapas starters
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Faversham station, about 1.4 miles south-east.
Before booking anyone
- Allergen information for each dish
- Whether VAT is included
- How bad weather is handled
- What the price includes, item by item
- 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