Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Penshurst events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Penshurst. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks reception canapés
Live tapas catering in Penshurst
Step by step
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Evening receptions in Penshurst stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm 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 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
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
About our tapas catering in Penshurst
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. We cook tortilla española, albóndigas and gambas al ajillo, and we are often booked for table tapas as a starter and welcome-drink canapés.
Near Penshurst, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
What tapas catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Your choice of paellas
- Waiting and bar staff
- The number of people
- Distance and access to the venue
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Anything your venue supplies
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Penshurst hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Catering across Kent, including Penshurst
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Nearby places to Penshurst
Also in Penshurst
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Receptions and parties in Penshurst
Penshurst is about 5 miles north-west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Penshurst or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Penshurst is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Penshurst to London (26 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Penshurst station is about 1.8 miles away. A picnic in Chiddingstone Castle Park and Gardens? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
We cater events across TN11. Local streets include High Street, The Warren and Beckets Field; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Chiddingstone Hoath (2 miles west), Walter's Green (2 miles south), Chiddingstone Causeway (2 miles north), Fordcombe (2 miles south) and Teasley Mead (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Sevenoaks (8 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (5 miles south-east), Tonbridge (5 miles north-east), Kings Hill (12 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (9 miles east) and Southborough (4 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (4.2 miles east) and Chiddingstone Castle (1.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve and Barden Lake.
- Pubs nearby include The Leicester Arms Hotel (within half a mile north-east)
FAQs for Penshurst
Is Penshurst close to London?
About 26 miles from central London.
Is Penshurst too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. 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 supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Serving boards and crockery.
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, often with alioli.
Perfect for your event in Penshurst
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Whatever you are celebrating in Penshurst, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Anniversary parties
- Office parties and launches
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas starters
Nearby historic houses include Penshurst Place (under half a mile north-east) and Chiddingstone Castle (1.8 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether VAT is included
- 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