Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Westwood, Kent
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Westwood and the surrounding area.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
Live tapas catering in Westwood
About our tapas catering in Westwood
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We are frequently asked to cater tapas and paella menus and work receptions, serving padrón peppers, Manchego with membrillo and patatas bravas.
In a rural spot like Westwood, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Westwood: your questions answered
Can you cook in Jumping Downs?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter and St Paul?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do we need staff for canapés?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How many tapas per person?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
Planning the cooking area
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you. The main points are:
- A spot for our serving station
- Parking near the venue
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Westwood
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. 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 book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
Places near Westwood
More for events in Westwood
What affects the price in Westwood
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Canapés need staff to serve
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Sangria and bar staff.
The process
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. At midsummer, it’s light in Westwood until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- 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 set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Planning a tapas spread in Westwood
Westwood is about 5 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Westwood or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Westwood is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Bekesbourne station, about 4.1 miles north. Nearby historic houses include Acrise Place (4.9 miles south). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Westwood, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Tapas catering in CT4 is planned around your venue. For events just outside Westwood, we cover Marley (1 mile east), Heart's Delight (2 miles east), Bishopsbourne (2 miles north-east), Kingston (2 miles north-east) and Derringstone (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (5 miles north), Dover (10 miles south-east), Folkestone (9 miles south), Whitstable (11 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
A little further out are Canterbury Castle (5 miles north) and Kent and Canterbury Hospital (4.2 miles north).
Occasions we cook for in Westwood
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
- Launches and office parties
- Engagement parties
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Westwood, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is included
- The venue requirements
- Staff numbers and hours
- The deposit and payment dates
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
- 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