Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Shelvin events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Shelvin. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement drinks
- Birthday drinks
Book tapas catering in Shelvin
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evening receptions in Shelvin stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
How our tapas catering works in Shelvin
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. We cook croquetas, Serrano ham and padrón peppers, and we are often booked for evening grazing and office parties and launches.
Near Shelvin, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Why choose live paella in Shelvin?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Shelvin hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Tapas for events in Shelvin
Shelvin is about 6 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Shelvin. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 8 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: Shepherds Well station is about 1.9 miles away. Historic houses near Shelvin include Acrise Place (4 miles south-west) and Goodnestone Park (4.5 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Shelvin, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the CT4 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Clints Lane and Shelvin Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Wootton (1 mile south-west), Denton (1 mile west), Lodge Lees (1 mile west), Breach (2 miles west) and Selsted (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Ashford (14 miles west), Canterbury (8 miles north-west), Dover (6 miles south-east), Folkestone (7 miles south), Ramsgate (14 miles north-east) and Whitstable (13 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Buckland Hospital (5.9 miles south-east).
- Local pubs include Coach House Hotel (0.7 miles north)
Shelvin questions
Do you come out to small places like Shelvin?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Which station should guests use for Shelvin?
The closest is Shepherds Well station, roughly 1.9 miles away.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Unloading access
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
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.
Also near Shelvin
Other catering in Shelvin
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Occasions we cook for in Shelvin
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Shelvin and Kent:
- Birthday drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Martin, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What to look for in a quote
- The deadline for final numbers
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether travel is included
- The wet-weather plan
- 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