Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Sholden
Paella 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 for events in Sholden.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
- Tapas starters
Planning an event in Sholden?
Tapas catering for your event in Sholden
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings. On the menu are Manchego with membrillo, padrón peppers and gambas al ajillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater tapas and paella menus and work receptions.
Near Sholden, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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’ll do the cooking.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Your questions about tapas catering in Sholden
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Nicholas: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is normally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Of course. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to serve.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
How the day works
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. At midsummer, it is light in Sholden until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Read more
Events we cater in Sholden
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Tapas and paella menus
- Anniversary parties
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Nicholas.
Before booking anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- When final numbers are due
- Space, access and power needs
- If the price includes VAT
Paella compared with other options
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What you get with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
- How many courses
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 we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Where the event is
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Which courses you have in mind
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Sholden: venues and local tips
Sholden is about 1 mile north-west of Deal, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Sholden and the surrounding area. Sholden is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Deal station is about 1.1 miles away. If you are looking at a historic venue around Sholden, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. With the sea within about 2 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cook at events all over the CT14 postcode area. Streets in the area include The Street, London Road and Colmanton Grove, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Sholden, we also cover Sholden Meadows (1 mile west), Mill Hill (1 mile south), Great Mongeham (1 mile south-west), Deal (1 mile south-east) and Finglesham (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (13 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (7 miles south-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north) and Broadstairs (10 miles north).
A little further out are Deal Castle (1.4 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (1.2 miles east). Not far away are Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Local schools include Castle Community College (1 mile south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Magnet pub (0.6 miles south-east)
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Space, weather and the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you. The main points are:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Space to finish hot dishes
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
Also near Sholden
What else we do in Sholden
- 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