Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Stocker's Head
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Stocker's Head.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
- Office parties and launches
Tapas catering for Stocker's Head events
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Tapas catering in Stocker's Head, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. For sharing tapas starters and sharing boards for evening guests, we’ll put together a menu of albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas for your guests.
For a country party near Stocker's Head, tapas and sangria set the mood. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Events we cater in Stocker's Head
They work for any size of event.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Stocker's Head book us for events such as:
- Engagement celebrations
- Anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Evening grazing
Historic buildings near Stocker's Head often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Questions to ask before booking
- What happens if it rains
- Travel and parking costs
- Staff numbers and hours
- If the price includes VAT
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Nearby places to Stocker's Head
More for events in Stocker's Head
Common questions in Stocker's Head
How far is Stocker's Head from London?
Roughly 44 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Stocker's Head?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Where do you cater?
We cover London and the South East, Kent included. See all areas.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Planning a tapas spread in Stocker's Head
Stocker's Head is about 6 miles north-west of Ashford, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the TN27 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover 922 places across Kent. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Peter and St Paul. Parks such as Spuckles and Kennelling Woods have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Stocker's Head is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in TN27, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Charing Hill (1 mile west), Stalisfield (2 miles north), Stalisfield Green (2 miles north), Paddock (2 miles east) and The Valley (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles west), Ashford (6 miles south-east), Canterbury (12 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north), Whitstable (13 miles north-east) and Faversham (7 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Newnham Castle (4.7 miles north).
- Pubs nearby include King's Head Public House (1 mile south-west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell usually draws people over. Evening receptions in Stocker's Head stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning the cooking area
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Parking near the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Stocker's Head
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
What affects the price in Stocker's Head
These are the factors that matter most:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
- 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