Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Pratling Street
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Pratling Street and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Birthday drinks
- Drinks reception canapés
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering for Pratling Street events
Step by step
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Evening receptions in Pratling Street 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.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
Tapas catering for your event in Pratling Street
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. Typical bookings include engagement celebrations and tapas with a paella main course, serving albóndigas, patatas bravas and croquetas.
For a country party near Pratling Street, tapas and sangria set the mood. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Pratling Street questions
We are having a ceremony at Methodist Church Including Sunday School: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which station should guests use for Pratling Street?
The closest is Aylesford station, roughly 1.4 miles away.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
What affects the price in Pratling Street
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Tapas for events in Pratling Street
Pratling Street is about 3 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. Anywhere in ME20, we will come to your venue or garden. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Pratling Street to Canterbury (25 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Aylesford station is about 1.4 miles away. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Pratling Street, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Pratling Street is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in ME20, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Old Mill Lane, Pratling Street and St Michaels Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Pratling Street for tapas catering include Forstal (1 mile south-west), Eccles (1 mile north-west), Burham (2 miles north-west), New Hythe (2 miles west) and Larkfield (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (3 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (11 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (14 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north-west).
A little further out are Fremlin Walk (2.4 miles south-east) and Allington Castle (1.1 miles south-east). Not far away are Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Nearby schools include Aylesford School (1.5 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Bush pub (0.6 miles west)
Also in Pratling Street
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Parking near the venue
- 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.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Afterwards, we clear away.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Events we cater in Pratling Street
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Whatever you are celebrating in Pratling Street, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
- Evening sharing boards
- Engagement celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Starkey Castle (4.3 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and parking costs
- The wet-weather plan
- How late numbers can change
- Payment terms and deposit
- 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
