Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Shorne, Kent
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Shorne and across Kent.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
- Anniversary parties
Live tapas catering in Shorne
Common questions in Shorne
Can you cook in Shorne Woods Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Is Shorne too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How much tapas do we need?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Shorne.
How many paellas should we have?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Staff make canapés work, which we can supply.
How our tapas catering works in Shorne
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Popular choices include albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater launches and office parties and drinks parties and receptions.
In a rural spot like Shorne, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Drinks receptions around Shorne
Shorne is about 2 miles south-east of Gravesend, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Shorne will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 23 miles away.
Historic buildings near Shorne frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Higham station, about 1.7 miles north-east.
We cater events across the DA12 postcode area and the streets around it. Local streets include The Street, Cob Drive and Crown Green; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Nearby, we also cater events in Upper Ifield (1 mile west), Shorne Ridgeway (1 mile south), Higham (1 mile east), Thong (1 mile west) and Gadshill (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (11 miles south), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (9 miles west), Sevenoaks (14 miles south-west), Northfleet (4 miles west) and Swanley (11 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Gravesham Museum (3.2 miles north-west) and Gravesham Community Hospital (3.4 miles north-west). The countryside around Shorne includes Rede Common and Gad's Hill.
- Nearby schools include Thamesview School (1.6 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Rose and Crown pub (under half a mile south)
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- A spot for our serving station
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Fast service from the pan
- Catering across Kent, including Shorne
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Why choose tapas catering in Shorne?
They work for any size of event.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
- Launches and office parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Questions to ask before booking
- Who provides the crockery
- The deposit and payment dates
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Collect dietary needs
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Add a live paella main.
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How long we are needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The number of people
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
- The date and time of the event
- Diets and allergies you know about
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
How the day works
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Sunset in Shorne is around 9:20pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
How to get a price
Planning tapas catering in Shorne? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Also near Shorne
More for events in Shorne
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns.
- 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