Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Swingfield Minnis
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Swingfield Minnis. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Tapas catering in Swingfield Minnis
Occasions we cook for in Swingfield Minnis
They work for any size of event.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Swingfield Minnis and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Birthday drinks
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas starters
- Engagement parties
If you are looking at a historic venue around Swingfield Minnis, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Before booking anyone
- Allergen information for each dish
- How bad weather is handled
- How long the team stays
- The venue requirements
Tapas catering for your event in Swingfield Minnis
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Many events have both. On the menu are Serrano ham, tortilla española and padrón peppers, and typical bookings are for sharing boards for evening guests and engagement celebrations.
In a rural spot like Swingfield Minnis, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
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.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Tapas for events in Swingfield Minnis
Swingfield Minnis is about 4 miles north of Folkestone, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Swingfield Minnis or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Swingfield Minnis to Canterbury (10 miles away).
Historic houses near Swingfield Minnis include Acrise Place (1.5 miles south-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Shepherds Well station, about 4.1 miles north-east. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Swingfield Minnis, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 5 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Anywhere in CT15, we can cook for your guests. Local streets include Canterbury Road and Hoad Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Swingfield Minnis is on the A260, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Close by, we cover events in Selsted (1 mile north), Densole (1 mile south), Wootton (2 miles north), Hawkinge (2 miles south) and Old Hawkinge (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (10 miles north), Dover (6 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south), Whitstable (15 miles north) and Deal (11 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (3.9 miles south-west) and Royal Victoria Hospital (4.1 miles south). Not far away are Cheriton Hill.
For planners, venues and organisers
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.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Venue approval for outside catering
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
Swingfield Minnis: your questions answered
Can you cook near the sea around Swingfield Minnis?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Is Swingfield Minnis too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Add sangria or cava
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Collect dietary needs
- Label seafood clearly
Each dish is labelled.
Bar staff and sangria.
How we price tapas catering
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The address or venue name
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The date and time of the event
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Towns and villages near Swingfield Minnis
Also in Swingfield Minnis
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer drinks reception in Swingfield Minnis has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
- 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