Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Warmlake events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Warmlake. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas starters
- Evening grazing
Tapas catering near Warmlake
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Serving boards and crockery.
How our tapas catering works in Warmlake
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. On the menu are patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and Manchego with membrillo, and typical bookings are for work receptions and birthday and anniversary parties.
In a rural spot like Warmlake, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
How it works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. At midsummer, it is light in Warmlake until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
What tapas catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
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 to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- What the venue already provides
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Diets and allergies you know about
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Where we can cook in Warmlake
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Space on each table
- A spot for our serving station
- Unloading access
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
FAQs for Warmlake
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Warmlake for guests?
Hollingbourne station, about 3.3 miles north-east of the centre.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you cover Warmlake?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Warmlake is within our area. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Perfect for your event in Warmlake
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Sharing tapas starters
Nearby historic houses include Stoneacre (2.1 miles north) and Leeds Castle (2.4 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and parking costs
- How each diet is kept separate
- What happens if it rains
- The venue requirements
Paella compared with other options
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Warmlake hosts choose us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Warmlake: venues and local tips
Warmlake is about 4 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Across the ME17 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover 922 places across Kent. We cook right across the region, from Warmlake to Canterbury (about 22 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Warmlake, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Michael, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Warmlake, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
For tapas catering in ME17, we plan around your venue and your guests. Streets in the area include Warmlake Orchard, Oast Gardens and Maidstone Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Warmlake for tapas catering include Five Wents (1 mile north), Sutton Valence (1 mile south), Langley Heath (1 mile north), Langley (1 mile north) and Chart Sutton (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (4 miles north-west), Ashford (13 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west), Tonbridge (14 miles west) and Faversham (14 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find KIMS hospital (4.6 miles north) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.3 miles north-east).
- Pubs nearby include The Plough Inn (under half a mile north-west)
Places near Warmlake
Also in Warmlake
- 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