Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Tenterden, Kent
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Tenterden.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas before paella
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering in Tenterden
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Staff to serve canapés.
Tapas catering in Tenterden, made fresh on the day
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Whether it is launches and office parties and tapas starters, we will put together a menu of Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas and more.
Tapas make a party in Tenterden easy and sociable. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Tapas for events in Tenterden
Tenterden is about 9 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. From the centre of Tenterden to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Tenterden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Tenterden to Canterbury (about 22 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Smallhythe Place (2.2 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Parish Church of St Mildred. Tenterden is within about 8 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in TN30, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Golden Square, High Street and Station Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Tenterden is on the A28 and B2067, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. We also cook at events in Broad Tenterden (1 mile south), St Michaels (1 mile north), Strood (2 miles west), London Beach (2 miles north) and Parkgate (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (15 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (15 miles north-west), Bearsted (15 miles north), Park Wood (13 miles north-west) and Kennington (11 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Tenterden and District Museum (within half a mile west) and Benenden Hospital (3.4 miles west).
- Nearby schools include Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre (0.5 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Vine Inn (within half a mile south-west)
Is live paella right for your event?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why book with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Your choice of paellas
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Parking and unloading
- Timings and hours
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and time of the event
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you contact us. In general, we need:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space on each table
- Parking near the venue
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Tenterden
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
For event organisers in Tenterden
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Tenterden: your questions answered
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.
Can you cook in Turners Field?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
How many different paellas?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Towns and villages near Tenterden
Other catering in Tenterden
Why choose tapas catering in Tenterden?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Tapas with a paella main course
A picnic in Turners Field? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- When payment is due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the price includes, item by item
How the day works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you are free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Sunset in Tenterden 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 hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know the timings for the day
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
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