Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Park Wood, Kent
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Park Wood: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Launches and office parties
- Engagement parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
Book tapas catering in Park Wood
Tapas catering in Park Wood, cooked live
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. We’re often asked to cater tapas and paella menus and birthday drinks, serving gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and croquetas.
In Park Wood, tapas work at home or in a local hall. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Why choose live paella in Park Wood?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why Park Wood hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Fast service from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Drinks service on request
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Towns and villages near Park Wood
Other catering in Park Wood
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Collect dietary needs
Afterwards, we clear away.
Serving boards and crockery.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
FAQs for Park Wood
Which station should guests use for Park Wood?
Maidstone West station, about 2.6 miles north-west of the centre.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Why choose tapas catering in Park Wood?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas and paella menus
After a ceremony at a church such as St Martin's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- If the price includes VAT
- Payment terms and deposit
- How late numbers can change
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Evening receptions in Park Wood stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and 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.
Before we arrive
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Where we can cook in Park Wood
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space for a serving table or station
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Park Wood
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
Drinks receptions around Park Wood
Park Wood is about 2 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Across the ME15 area, we can bring the pans to you. Park Wood is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Park Wood to Canterbury (23 miles away).
Historic houses near Park Wood include Stoneacre (1.3 miles north-east) and Leeds Castle (3.4 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Maidstone West station, about 2.6 miles north-west. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Park Wood, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over ME15, ME17 and ME14. Your event could be at a home on Bell Road, Selby Road and Essex Road or the roads around them. With the A274 close by, Park Wood is easy for us to reach for your event. Nearby, we also cater events in Otham (1 mile north-east), Willington (1 mile north), Boughton Monchelsea (1 mile south-west), Shepway (1 mile north) and Boughton Green (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Ashford (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west), Gravesend (15 miles north-west), Tonbridge (12 miles west) and Faversham (15 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Sutton Valence Castle (2.7 miles south-east) and The Mall Maidstone (2.5 miles north-west). Not far away are Detling Hill.
- Schools near Park Wood include Senacre Technology College (less than half a mile east) and New Line Learning Academy (1.1 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The White Horse pub (0.8 miles north-east)
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
- 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