Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in River, Kent
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across River and Kent, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas and paella menus
- Welcome-drink canapés
Live tapas catering in River
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. A summer drinks reception in River has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Before we arrive
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
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How our tapas catering works in River
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. We’re often asked to cater drinks parties and receptions and office parties and launches, serving Serrano ham, padrón peppers and patatas bravas.
In River, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Drinks receptions around River
River is about 1 mile north-west of Dover, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the CT17 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Peter. Historic buildings near River often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. River is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
For tapas catering in CT17 and CT16, we plan around your venue. Streets in the area include Lower Road, Minnis Lane and London Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside River, we cover Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile north-west), Dover (1 mile south-east), Whitfield (1 mile north-east) and Maxton (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north-east), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (10 miles south-west) and Walmer (7 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Crabble Corn Mill (under half a mile south-east) and Dover Castle (2.2 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights.
- Schools near River include Dover Christ Church Academy (1.2 miles south-east) and St Edmund's Catholic School (1.4 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Royal Oak Cottage The Royal Oak Public House (within half a mile south)
Live paella or other catering?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why River hosts choose us
- Drinks service on request
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Bar staff and sangria.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Room for a tapas table
- Unloading access
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
Common questions in River
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Peter: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Can we add drinks?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
How we price tapas catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
- Which courses you have in mind
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Who books tapas catering in River?
Big or small, tapas work.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Evening sharing boards
- Cocktail parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
For guests coming by train, Kearsney station is about 0.5 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- How bad weather is handled
- Payment terms and deposit
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Also in River
- 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