Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Smarden
Planning tapas catering in Smarden? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Birthday drinks
Planning an event in Smarden?
Tapas catering for your event in Smarden
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include tapas before paella and cocktail parties, with patatas bravas, albóndigas and padrón peppers.
Near Smarden, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. At midsummer, it is light in Smarden 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.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
FAQs for Smarden
Which station should guests use for Smarden?
The closest is Pluckley station, roughly 2.6 miles away.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Michael: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- The length of service
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Other catering in Smarden
Paella compared with other options
Crisps and 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’ll suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- A clear, itemised quote
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
Always popular and generally vegetarian.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Drinks receptions around Smarden
Smarden is about 8 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Smarden. Smarden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 19 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Pluckley station is about 2.6 miles away. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Michael, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Smarden is within about 8 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
This part of Kent takes in TN27, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on The Street, The Acorns and Water Lane or the roads around them. For events just outside Smarden, we cover Biddenden Green (1 mile north-east), Smarden Bell (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile south-west), Swift's Green (1 mile north-west) and Standen (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Romden Castle (1 mile east) and Benenden Hospital (5.3 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include The Chequers Inn (within half a mile south)
Occasions we cook for in Smarden
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Smarden and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Tapas before paella
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks reception canapés
Historic buildings near Smarden often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- When final numbers are due
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Check diets in advance
- Label seafood clearly
- Include staff for canapés
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Waiting staff for canapés.
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
- 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