Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Stede Quarter, Kent
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 Stede Quarter.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Tapas with a paella main course
Tapas catering for Stede Quarter events
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Travel, parking and access
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
What to tell us
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Where the event is
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Your date and when you want to eat
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
About our tapas catering in Stede Quarter
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. We cook tortilla española, Serrano ham and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater birthday and anniversary parties and welcome-drink canapés.
Near Stede Quarter, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Also near Stede Quarter
Other catering in Stede Quarter
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Access to unload near the serving area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Stede Quarter
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
Stede Quarter: venues and local tips
Stede Quarter is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Events in Stede Quarter are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 21 miles away.
Parks such as Wattle Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Headcorn station, about 4 miles north-west. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Stede Quarter, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Tapas catering in TN27 is planned around your venue and your guests. Nearby, we also cater events in Woolpack Corner (1 mile south-west), Curteis' Corner (1 mile north-west), Biddenden (1 mile west), Standen (1 mile north-west) and Durrant Green (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (12 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Foley Park (13 miles north-west), Paddock Wood (13 miles west), Tenterden (3 miles south) and Bearsted (12 miles north).
A little further out are Benenden Hospital (3.1 miles south-west) and Kent Firefighting Museum (2.9 miles north-west).
Occasions we cook for in Stede Quarter
They’re ideal when a full meal doesn’t fit.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Stede Quarter, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Questions to ask before you book
- How late numbers can change
- Travel and parking costs
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- VAT, if it applies
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
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 Stede Quarter is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
How to prepare
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Stede Quarter questions
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you come out to small places like Stede Quarter?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Of course. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
Can you do sangria?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Should I cook it myself?
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 will do the cooking.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, 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