Kent · England
Tapas Catering in The Stocks
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in The Stocks: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Birthday drinks
Live tapas catering in The Stocks
Tapas catering for your event in The Stocks
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Whether it’s birthday and anniversary parties and welcome-drink canapés, we can cook Serrano ham, patatas bravas and padrón peppers and more.
Near The Stocks, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Common questions in The Stocks
Is The Stocks too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Do you cover The Stocks?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including The Stocks and the rest of Kent. To check your date, use our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Check diets in advance
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Nearby places to The Stocks
Also in The Stocks
Events we cater in The Stocks
They work for any size of event.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
- Tapas starters
Historic houses near The Stocks include Smallhythe Place (2 miles north-west) and Lamb House (4.4 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Before booking anyone
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in The Stocks stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late 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.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Receptions and parties in The Stocks
The Stocks is about 11 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. For an event in The Stocks, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around The Stocks. We cook in all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from The Stocks to Canterbury (about 24 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as Parish Church of St John the Baptist, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Rye station, about 4.2 miles south. The coast is within about 5 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of Kent takes in TN30, so your event can be anywhere in it. We can cater an event on streets such as Stocks Road, Budd's Lane and Wittersham Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Acton (1 mile north), Wittersham (1 mile west), Stone Corner (1 mile north), Stone in Oxney (2 miles east) and Reading Street (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (11 miles north-east), Tenterden (4 miles north), Kennington (13 miles north-east), New Romney (10 miles east), Staplehurst (13 miles north-west) and Stanhope (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Smallhythe Place (2 miles north-west) and Ypres Tower (4.4 miles south). Not far away are Flatropers Wood.
- Local pubs include The Ewe And Lamb Inn (0.5 miles west)
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
What affects the price in The Stocks
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The paellas you choose
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
- Travel, parking and access
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Expected numbers
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The courses you’d like
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 send us your details through our quote form.
Where we can cook in The Stocks
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Space to finish hot dishes
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- 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