Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Upper Harbledown
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Upper Harbledown and the surrounding area.
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
Book tapas catering in Upper Harbledown
Tapas catering in Upper Harbledown, cooked live
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas. On the menu are croquetas, patatas bravas and tortilla española, and typical bookings are for birthday and anniversary parties and office parties and launches.
Near Upper Harbledown, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Paella compared with other options
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why Upper Harbledown hosts choose us
- We cover Upper Harbledown and the whole of Kent
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Questions from Upper Harbledown
Can you cook near the sea around Upper Harbledown?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St. Gabriel?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Of course. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
How much does tapas catering cost in Upper Harbledown?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you do sangria?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
The process
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Evening receptions in Upper Harbledown 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, numbers and serving style.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What affects the price in Upper Harbledown
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- How many guests are eating
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The courses you’d like
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Drinks receptions around Upper Harbledown
Upper Harbledown is about 2 miles west of Canterbury, in Kent. Across the CT2 area, we can cook for your guests. Upper Harbledown is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover.
Historic buildings near Upper Harbledown frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. For guests coming by train, Canterbury West station is about 1.8 miles away. The coast is within about 6 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Here we cover the CT2 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on Roman Road, The Green and Limes Place or the roads around them. Other places close to Upper Harbledown for tapas catering include Rough Common (1 mile north-east), Harbledown (1 mile east), Chartham Hatch (1 mile south-west), Thanington (1 mile south-east) and Wincheap (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Ashford (12 miles south-west), Dover (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles west), Folkestone (15 miles south-east), Whitstable (5 miles north) and Faversham (7 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Canterbury Castle (1.9 miles east) and Eastbridge Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr (2 miles east). Open spaces near Upper Harbledown include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby schools include The Canterbury Academy (1.3 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Dog and Bear pub (0.7 miles north-east)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Include staff for canapés
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Check diets in advance
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Permission from the venue
- Parking near the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
Places near Upper Harbledown
Other catering in Upper Harbledown
- 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