Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Swalecliffe, Kent
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Swalecliffe: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas starters
Planning an event in Swalecliffe?
Should I cook it myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Tapas catering in Swalecliffe, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. Typical bookings include evening sharing boards and anniversary parties, with albóndigas, padrón peppers and gambas al ajillo.
Tapas make a party in Swalecliffe easy and sociable. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Also near Swalecliffe
Other catering in Swalecliffe
Occasions we cook for in Swalecliffe
They make a perfect starter before paella.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Swalecliffe:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Launches and office parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement parties
For guests coming by train, Swalecliffe has its own station, Chestfield & Swalecliffe station.
What your quote should include
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Space, access and power needs
- The deposit and payment dates
- How long the team stays
Swalecliffe: your questions answered
Can you cook near the sea around Swalecliffe?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Which station should guests use for Swalecliffe?
Swalecliffe has its own station: Chestfield & Swalecliffe station.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Of course. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Receptions and parties in Swalecliffe
Swalecliffe is about 2 miles east of Whitstable, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Swalecliffe, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. We cook right across the region, from Swalecliffe to Canterbury (6 miles away).
Historic buildings near Swalecliffe frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St John the Baptist. With the sea within about 2 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cater events across the CT5 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Kemp Road, Brook Road and Burnan Road or the roads around them. Swalecliffe sits on or near the A2990, which makes travel to your event easy. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Chestfield (1 mile south), Tankerton (1 mile west), West End (1 mile south-east), Hampton (2 miles north-east) and Whitstable (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (6 miles south), Margate (14 miles east), Sittingbourne (14 miles west), Ramsgate (15 miles east), Faversham (8 miles west) and Herne Bay (3 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (0.7 miles west) and Tankerton Castle (1.3 miles west). Not far away are West Blean and Thornden Woods.
- Nearby schools include The Whitstable School (1.4 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Plough pub (within half a mile north-east)
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- How long we are needed on site
- Waiting and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
- Guest numbers
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Where the event is
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Include staff for canapés
- Tell us what role tapas play
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Organising for someone else?
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
The process
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 the timing is planned around your event. Sunset in Swalecliffe is around 9:15pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Before we arrive
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or CT5 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Planning help
Live paella or other catering?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why book with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- 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