Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Smeeth, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Smeeth.
- Engagement parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Tapas catering near Smeeth
Tapas catering for your event in Smeeth
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. We are often asked to cater evening sharing boards and cocktail parties, serving gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and Serrano ham.
In a rural spot like Smeeth, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we are needed on site
- Travel, parking and access
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Which courses you have in mind
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, use our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Label seafood clearly
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Add a live paella main.
Paella compared with other options
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Smeeth
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Catering across Kent, including Smeeth
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- A quote that spells everything out
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Unloading access
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
Your questions about tapas catering in Smeeth
What’s the nearest station to Smeeth for guests?
The closest is Westenhanger station, roughly 3.6 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
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 generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Towns and villages near Smeeth
More for events in Smeeth
Why choose tapas catering in Smeeth?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Smeeth, people book us for occasions like:
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing tapas starters
- Evening grazing
- Tapas before paella
Guests travelling by rail: Westenhanger station is about 3.6 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- What the price includes, item by item
- Payment terms and deposit
- Allergen information for each dish
- The deadline for final numbers
Receptions and parties in Smeeth
Smeeth is about 5 miles east of Ashford, in Kent. Across the TN25 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Smeeth is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. Our events stretch from Smeeth to Canterbury (about 12 miles away).
Historic houses near Smeeth include Westenhanger Castle (3.4 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary. Smeeth is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cover events in every part of TN25 and the streets around it. From Church Road, Caroland Close and Woolpack Hill or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to Smeeth for tapas catering include Ridgeway (1 mile west), Brabourne Lees (1 mile north-east), Lilyvale (1 mile south-east), Bircholt Forstal (1 mile north-east) and Stone Hill (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (5 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles east), Folkestone (9 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north) and Hythe (6 miles south-east).
A little further out are Lympne Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and William Harvey Hospital (2.6 miles north-west). The countryside around Smeeth includes Hatch Park.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Smeeth stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Working with your venue
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, 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.
- 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