Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Watt's Cross, Kent
Planning tapas catering in Watt's Cross? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Launches and office parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Watt's Cross
About our tapas catering in Watt's Cross
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. Popular choices include albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española, and typical bookings are for canapés with welcome drinks and drinks parties and receptions.
Near Watt's Cross, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
Planning a tapas spread in Watt's Cross
Watt's Cross is about 3 miles north-west of Tonbridge, in Kent. For tapas catering in Watt's Cross, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Watt's Cross. Watt's Cross is one of 922 places in Kent where we cook. You can also see our page for London, about 24 miles away.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Watt's Cross, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Historic houses near Watt's Cross include Ightham Mote (3 miles north-east) and Knole House (3.1 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Watt's Cross, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the TN11 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Close by, we cover events in Hildenborough (1 mile south-east), Stocks Green (1 mile south), Coldharbour (1 mile east), Hilden Park (2 miles south-east) and Underriver (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north), Sevenoaks (4 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles south), Tonbridge (3 miles south-east) and Northfleet (15 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Tonbridge Castle (2.7 miles south-east) and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (3.7 miles south-east). The countryside around Watt's Cross includes Dryhill Nature Reserve and Barden Lake.
What affects the price in Watt's Cross
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Parking and unloading
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Watt's Cross? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
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. We take care of all of it.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Organising a club, school or community event in Watt's Cross? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Watt's Cross questions
Is Watt's Cross close to London?
Roughly 24 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
We’re having a ceremony at Parish Church of St John: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more for a suggestion.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
What happens on the day
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. A summer drinks reception in Watt's Cross has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Serving boards and crockery.
Who books tapas catering in Watt's Cross?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
- Launches and office parties
For guests coming by train, Hildenborough station is about 0.6 miles away.
Questions to ask before booking
- Travel and parking costs
- What the price includes, item by item
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The wet-weather plan
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Before you choose a spot
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Space on each table
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Parking near the venue
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Watt's Cross
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
Towns and villages near Watt's Cross
More for events in Watt's Cross
- 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