Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Thurnham, Kent
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Thurnham. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Engagement drinks
- Anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
Planning an event in Thurnham?
Tapas catering for your event in Thurnham
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. On the menu are albóndigas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo, and we are regularly asked to cater tapas before paella and birthday drinks.
Near Thurnham, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Thurnham: your questions answered
What’s the nearest station to Thurnham for guests?
Bearsted station, about 1.1 miles south-west of the centre.
We are having a ceremony at St Mary the Virgin Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to serve.
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, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
How the day works
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Evening receptions in Thurnham stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Events we cater in Thurnham
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Thurnham book us for events such as:
- Engagement drinks
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
After a ceremony at a church such as St Mary the Virgin Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before booking anyone
- The wet-weather plan
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The deadline for final numbers
- If the price includes VAT
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Unloading access
- Room for a tapas table
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
Places near Thurnham
Other catering in Thurnham
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Collect dietary needs
- Include staff for canapés
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, often with alioli.
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Thurnham? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
- How many courses
- The number of people
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- The venue or postcode
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and rough timings
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Thurnham? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why book with us
- We cover Thurnham and the whole of Kent
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Receptions and parties in Thurnham
Thurnham is about 3 miles north-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Thurnham or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 922 places across Kent. We cook right across the region, from Thurnham to Canterbury (about 21 miles away).
Parks such as White Horse Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Thurnham, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Thurnham, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in ME14, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Thurnham Lane, Aldington Lane and Pilgrims Way or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Detling (1 mile north-west), Bearsted (1 mile south-west), Weavering (2 miles south-west), Grove Green (2 miles west) and Harbourland (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (3 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (7 miles north-east), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Tonbridge (15 miles south-west), Faversham (13 miles east) and Northfleet (14 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Allington Castle (3.3 miles west) and KIMS hospital (1.4 miles west). The countryside around Thurnham includes Detling Hill.
- Nearby, you will find Black Horse Public House (within half a mile north-east)
- 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