Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Swanscombe, Kent
Planning tapas catering in Swanscombe? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Sharing tapas starters
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering near Swanscombe
About our tapas catering in Swanscombe
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. We’re often asked to cater sharing tapas starters and work receptions, with tortilla española, Serrano ham and patatas bravas.
Around Swanscombe, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Permission from the venue
- A spot for our serving station
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
Nearby places to Swanscombe
More for events in Swanscombe
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evening receptions in Swanscombe stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
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Receptions and parties in Swanscombe
Swanscombe is about 3 miles east of Dartford, in Kent. Events in Swanscombe are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Swanscombe is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 17 miles away.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Swanscombe, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
We cover events in every part of DA9 and DA10 and the streets around it. We can cater an event on streets such as London Road, Craylands Square and High Street. Being close to the A206 and A226, Swanscombe is easy for us to reach for your event. If your venue is just outside Swanscombe, we also cover Greenhithe (1 mile north-west), Stone (1 mile west), Bean (1 mile south), Darenth (2 miles south-west) and Green Street Green (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Dartford (3 miles west), Sevenoaks (12 miles south), Gravesend (4 miles east), Northfleet (3 miles south-east), Swanley (6 miles south-west) and Kings Hill (13 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Stone Castle (0.7 miles south-west) and Bluewater (1 mile south-west). Open spaces near Swanscombe include Sawyers Lake and Chafford Gorges Nature Park.
- Schools near Swanscombe include The Ebbsfleet Academy (1 mile south-east)
- Local pubs include The Pier Hotel (0.5 miles north-west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Your choice of paellas
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
- How many courses
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and rough timings
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Swanscombe, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Staff to serve canapés.
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Swanscombe? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Occasions we cook for in Swanscombe
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Tapas starters
- Evening grazing
Guests travelling by rail: Greenhithe for Bluewater station is about 0.5 miles away.
Before you book anyone
- Who provides the crockery
- Allergen information for each dish
- When payment is due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Questions from Swanscombe
Which station should guests use for Swanscombe?
The closest is Greenhithe for Bluewater station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Could we have live paella in Castle Hill Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Is the paella gluten-free?
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 serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
What’s in the pans
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
- 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