Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Wilmington, Kent
Planning tapas catering in Wilmington? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Receptions and drinks parties
Tapas catering in Wilmington
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Sunset in Wilmington is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Tapas catering in Wilmington, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. For birthday drinks and receptions and drinks parties, we will put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and padrón peppers for your guests.
Near Wilmington, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
What affects the price in Wilmington
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Timings and hours
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The courses you’d like
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Add a live paella main.
Who books tapas catering in Wilmington?
Tapas are sociable food.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Wilmington and Kent:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Crayford station, about 1.3 miles north.
What to look for in a quote
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Allergen information for each dish
- Whether VAT is included
- Who provides the crockery
Also near Wilmington
Other catering in Wilmington
Your questions about tapas catering in Wilmington
Which station should guests use for Wilmington?
Crayford station, about 1.3 miles north of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Barnabas?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Of course. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Unloading access
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Wilmington? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planning a tapas spread in Wilmington
Wilmington is about 2 miles south-west of Dartford, in Kent. Anywhere in DA2, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Wilmington is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 13 miles away.
Historic buildings near Wilmington often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. After a ceremony at a church such as St Barnabas, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Wilmington is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
For tapas catering in DA2, DA5 and DA1, we plan around your venue. We can cater an event on streets such as Common Lane, Parsons Lane and Oakfield Lane. With the A2 close by, Wilmington is simple for us to get to. If your venue is just outside Wilmington, we also cover Bowmans (1 mile north), Joyden's Wood (1 mile west), Puddledock (1 mile south-west), Coldblow (1 mile north-west) and Crayford (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Sevenoaks (10 miles south), Gravesend (8 miles east), Northfleet (7 miles east), Kings Hill (14 miles south-east), Swanscombe (5 miles east) and Windmill Hill (8 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Dartford Library (1.6 miles north-east) and Broadway Shopping Centre (2.5 miles north-west). Open spaces near Wilmington include Wansunt Pit.
- Nearby schools include Wilmington Primary School (under half a mile south-east)
- Local pubs include The Plough pub (0.9 miles east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Colyers (2.8 miles north)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
- 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