Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Paddock Wood events
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Paddock Wood and across Kent.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
Live tapas catering in Paddock Wood
Tapas catering for your event in Paddock Wood
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. We are often asked to cater table tapas as a starter and launches and office parties, serving albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas.
Around Paddock Wood, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The courses you’d like
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of where we’d cook
- What the venue already provides
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Questions from Paddock Wood
What’s the nearest station to Paddock Wood for guests?
Paddock Wood station, in Paddock Wood itself.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Andrew's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room for a tapas table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Paddock Wood
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Label seafood clearly
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Each dish is labelled.
Staff to serve canapés.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What you get with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
A closer look at the menu
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, frequently with ham or mushroom.
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer drinks reception in Paddock Wood has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Paddock Wood, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
Towns and villages near Paddock Wood
More for events in Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood: venues and local tips
Paddock Wood is about 5 miles east of Tonbridge, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Paddock Wood, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Paddock Wood is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Paddock Wood to London (about 31 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Andrew's Church. Guests travelling by rail: Paddock Wood has its own station, Paddock Wood station.
We cater events across the TN12 postcode area and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Church Road, Station Road and Forest Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. You will find Paddock Wood on the B2017 and B2160, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Nearby, we also cater events in Whetsted (1 mile north-west), Colt's Hill (1 mile west), Five Oak Green (2 miles west), Matfield (2 miles south-west) and Brenchley (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (9 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (11 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles south-west), Tonbridge (5 miles west), Kings Hill (7 miles north) and Foley Park (10 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Tunbridge Wells Hospital (4 miles south-west) and The Hop Farm Museum (1.4 miles north). Not far away are Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve.
- Nearby schools include Mascalls School (0.5 miles south)
- Local pubs include John Brunt V.C. Pub (under half a mile north)
Perfect for your event in Paddock Wood
Big or small, tapas work.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Paddock Wood and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement parties
Historic buildings near Paddock Wood often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Before booking anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Allergen information for each dish
- How bad weather is handled
- Payment terms and deposit
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
- 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