Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Shipbourne
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Shipbourne.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Evening sharing boards
- Engagement parties
Live tapas catering in Shipbourne
Tapas catering in Shipbourne, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. Typical bookings include receptions and drinks parties and sharing tapas starters, serving albóndigas, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Shipbourne, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Step by step
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Sunset in Shipbourne is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell 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.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
Planning tapas catering in Shipbourne? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
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Receptions and parties in Shipbourne
Shipbourne is about 3 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. Across the TN11 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our nearest city page is London, about 24 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Giles. Nearby historic houses include Ightham Mote (1.1 miles north-west) and Old Soar Manor (1.9 miles north-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Shipbourne is within about 8 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cater events across TN11. Whether your event is on Upper Green Road, Upper Green Lane and Back Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Budds (1 mile west), Yopps Green (1 mile north), Sheet Hill (2 miles north), Ivy Hatch (2 miles north) and Coldharbour (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (11 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles south), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (3 miles south).
A little further out are Ightham Court (3.3 miles north) and Hadlow Tower museum (2.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Barden Lake.
- Local schools include Hugh Christie Technology College (2.3 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Chaser Public House (less than half a mile west)
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Travel, parking and access
- Waiting and bar staff
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The venue or postcode
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Where we can cook in Shipbourne
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A spot for our serving station
- Venue approval for outside catering
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Shipbourne
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
Also near Shipbourne
What else we do in Shipbourne
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in Shipbourne? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Occasions we cook for in Shipbourne
They’re the classic starter before paella.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Office parties and launches
- Evening sharing boards
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Shipbourne, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Before you book anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Your questions about tapas catering in Shipbourne
Is Shipbourne close to London?
About 24 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Shipbourne?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Shipbourne.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Are the tapas fresh?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How many tapas per person?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details and we’ll advise.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Collect dietary needs
- Canapés need staff to serve
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Staff to serve canapés.
Should I cook it 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 will do the cooking.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
- 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