Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Upton, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Upton. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Tapas starters
- Birthday drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
Book tapas catering in Upton
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Collect dietary needs
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Bar staff and sangria.
Tapas catering in Upton, made fresh on the day
We will recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. For table tapas as a starter and anniversary parties, we’ll put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and Manchego with membrillo and more.
Tapas make a party in Upton easy and sociable. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
What affects the price in Upton
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How long we’re needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
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
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
What’s in the pans
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, often with ham or mushroom.
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Parking near the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
Common questions in Upton
We’re having a ceremony at Parish Church of St Peter the Apostle: 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.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you cater in Upton?
Yes, we do. Upton is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Towns and villages near Upton
What else we do in Upton
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Organising a club, school or community event in Upton? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Tapas for events in Upton
Upton is about 1 mile south-west of Broadstairs, in Kent. Events in Upton are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Upton to Canterbury (about 16 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Parish Church of St Peter the Apostle. Historic houses near Upton include Quex Park (4.5 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Wherever your event is in CT10, CT11 and CT12, we can bring tapas catering to you. We can cater an event on streets such as Vale Road, Lawn Road and Upton Road. Main roads around Upton include the A255, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Close by, we cover events in Broadstairs (1 mile north-east), St Peter's (1 mile north-west), Northwood (1 mile west), Ramsgate (1 mile south-west) and St Lawrence (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Deal (10 miles south), Herne Bay (13 miles west), Walmer (11 miles south), Whitfield (15 miles south), Sandwich (7 miles south-west) and Aylesham (13 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Westwood Cross (1.2 miles west) and Crampton Tower (less than half a mile east). Green spaces nearby include Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
- Local schools include The Charles Dickens School (under half a mile north-west) and The Charles Dickens School (under half a mile north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Little Albion Inn (within half a mile north-east)
How it works
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. Sunset in Upton is around 9:15pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Give us a contact for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Events we cater in Upton
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Upton, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Work receptions
- Birthday drinks
- Engagement celebrations
- Tapas starters
For guests coming by train, Broadstairs station is in Upton itself.
Comparing caterers
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
- How bad weather is handled
- How long the team stays
- 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