Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Old Wives Lees events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Old Wives Lees.
- Work receptions
- Tapas before paella
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering for Old Wives Lees events
Tapas catering in Old Wives Lees, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. For engagement parties and drinks parties and receptions, we can cook padrón peppers, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo and more.
Near Old Wives Lees, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How many courses
- The number of people
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Timings and hours
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Where the event is
- Diets and allergies you know about
- What the venue already provides
- Expected numbers
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Why choose tapas catering in Old Wives Lees?
They’re ideal when a full meal doesn’t fit.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement drinks
- Evening sharing boards
- Launches and office parties
Historic buildings near Old Wives Lees frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What your quote should include
- How long the team stays
- Whether VAT is included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Paella compared with other options
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Where we can cook in Old Wives Lees
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Permission from the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- An area to prepare hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
Step by step
Here’s how the day normally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. A summer drinks reception in Old Wives Lees 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.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Questions from Old Wives Lees
What’s the nearest station to Old Wives Lees for guests?
Chilham station, about 0.8 miles south-east of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Staff to serve canapés.
Planning a tapas spread in Old Wives Lees
Old Wives Lees is about 5 miles west of Canterbury, in Kent. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Old Wives Lees and the surrounding area. Old Wives Lees is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Parks such as Broadham Down have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Old Wives Lees, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Kent takes in CT4. Streets in the area include Cherry Orchard, Cobbs Hill and Green Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Old Wives Lees, we also cover Chilham (1 mile south), Mountain Street (1 mile south), Oversland (2 miles north), Neames Forstal (2 miles north-west) and Shottenden (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Ashford (9 miles south-west), Canterbury (5 miles east), Sittingbourne (12 miles north-west), Folkestone (15 miles south-east), Whitstable (7 miles north) and Faversham (5 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Chilham Castle (0.9 miles south-west) and Eastbridge Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr (5.1 miles east). Not far away are Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Star Inn (less than half a mile north-west)
Nearby places to Old Wives Lees
What else we do in Old Wives Lees
- 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