Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Shirkoak, Kent
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Shirkoak: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests.
- Evening grazing
- Tapas and paella menus
- Welcome-drink canapés
Planning an event in Shirkoak?
How our tapas catering works in Shirkoak
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include canapés with welcome drinks and cocktail parties, serving Manchego with membrillo, padrón peppers and Serrano ham.
For a country party near Shirkoak, tapas and sangria set the mood. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Common questions in Shirkoak
Could we have live paella in Stone Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Do you come out to small places like Shirkoak?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
What else we do in Shirkoak
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Sunset in Shirkoak is around 9:15pm in 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.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Get a quote
Planning tapas catering in Shirkoak? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Read more
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
Why choose live paella in Shirkoak?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- A quote that spells everything out
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Tapas for events in Shirkoak
Shirkoak is about 5 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Shirkoak, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cook in all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Shirkoak to Canterbury (about 19 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as Parish Church of All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Shirkoak, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
This part of Kent takes in TN26, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Bethersden Road, Shirkoak Park and Redbrook Street or a nearby road, we can cook there. Close by, we cover events in Woodchurch (1 mile south), Brattle (1 mile south), Brook Street (2 miles south), Leigh Green (3 miles south-west) and Appledore Heath (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Ashford (5 miles north-east), Hythe (14 miles east), Tenterden (4 miles south-west), Bearsted (15 miles north-west), Park Wood (14 miles north-west) and Kennington (7 miles north-east).
A little further out are Romden Castle (4.6 miles north-west) and Woodchurch Village Life Museum (0.7 miles south). Not far away are Orlestone Forest.
- Pubs nearby include The Bonny Cravat Inn (0.7 miles south)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Sangria and bar staff.
Who books tapas catering in Shirkoak?
They’re ideal when a full meal doesn’t fit.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Evening grazing
- Tapas and paella menus
Historic houses near Shirkoak include Smallhythe Place (4.8 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What to look for in a quote
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The venue requirements
- The deadline for final numbers
- Travel and parking costs
For event organisers in Shirkoak
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
- 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