Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Ratling, Kent
Planning tapas catering in Ratling? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement drinks
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering near Ratling
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Space on each table
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
Tapas catering in Ratling, cooked live
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. Popular choices include croquetas, patatas bravas and padrón peppers, and we’re regularly asked to cater sharing boards for evening guests and engagement celebrations.
For a country party near Ratling, tapas and sangria set the mood. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Ensure dishes are labelled
Table tapas are set down to share.
Serving boards and crockery.
Nearby places to Ratling
Also in Ratling
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Ratling? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Perfect for your event in Ratling
Big or small, tapas work.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Evening grazing
- Welcome-drink canapés
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Peter.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether VAT is included
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How bad weather is handled
Your questions about tapas catering in Ratling
Is Ratling close to London?
About 59 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What’s the nearest station to Ratling for guests?
The closest is Adisham station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Plenty are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Tapas for events in Ratling
Ratling is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the CT3 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cook in 922 places across Kent. We cook right across the region, from Ratling to Canterbury (about 6 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Goodnestone Park (1 mile north-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. For guests coming by train, Adisham station is about 0.5 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Ratling, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Tapas catering in CT3 is planned around your venue. Nearby, we also cater events in Nonington (1 mile south-east), Snowdown (1 mile south), Goodnestone (1 mile north-east), Chillenden (2 miles east) and Woolage Village (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (13 miles north-east), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south), Ramsgate (11 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (13 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (5.2 miles north-west).
How it works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Evening receptions in Ratling stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Read more
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Why choose live paella in Ratling?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
- 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