Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Otham
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Otham.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Work receptions
- Evening grazing
Planning an event in Otham?
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and typically vegetarian.
Tapas catering in Otham, made fresh on the day
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Whether it is sharing tapas starters and engagement celebrations, we can cook patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and tortilla española and more.
Tapas make a party in Otham easy and sociable. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The paellas you choose
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Otham: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Otham?
Bearsted station, about 2.1 miles north of the centre.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you cater in Otham?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Otham is within our area and the rest of Kent. To check your date, use our quote form.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Why choose tapas catering in Otham?
Tapas get people talking.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
Guests travelling by rail: Bearsted station is about 2.1 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- Who provides the crockery
- The wet-weather plan
- VAT, if it applies
- The deadline for final numbers
Places near Otham
Also in Otham
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Unloading access
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Otham
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Venues frequently have their own rules about 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.
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Check diets in advance
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Canapés need staff to serve
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Add a live paella main.
The process
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. A summer drinks reception in Otham 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 pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Planning help
Drinks receptions around Otham
Otham is about 2 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. For an event in Otham, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Otham. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 22 miles away.
Historic buildings near Otham often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Historic houses near Otham include Stoneacre (0.6 miles north-east) and Leeds Castle (2.7 miles east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Otham is within about 4 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in ME15 and ME17, we can cook for your guests. That could mean an event in a garden on Church Road, Spartall Drive and Ellis Field. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Willington (1 mile north-west), Park Wood (1 mile south-west), Langley (1 mile south-east), Shepway (1 mile north-west) and Caring (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west), Gravesend (15 miles north-west), Tonbridge (13 miles west) and Faversham (15 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Kent Fire Brigade Museum (2.4 miles west) and KIMS hospital (2.8 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Detling Hill.
- Local schools include Senacre Wood Primary School (within half a mile north-west) and New Line Learning Academy (1.5 miles west)
- Local pubs include The White Horse pub (within half a mile east)
- 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