Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Yelsted events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Yelsted: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
Tapas catering in Yelsted
FAQs for Yelsted
Which station should guests use for Yelsted?
The closest is Rainham (Kent) station, roughly 2.5 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like Yelsted?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
How many tapas per person?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more for a suggestion.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you provide serving staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Tapas catering for your event in Yelsted
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. We cook croquetas, gambas al ajillo and patatas bravas, and typical bookings are for work receptions and engagement drinks.
In a rural spot like Yelsted, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
What else we do in Yelsted
Perfect for your event in Yelsted
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Cocktail parties
- Launches and office parties
Parks such as Stockbury Hill Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Comparing caterers
- The deadline for final numbers
- Allergen information for each dish
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How long the team stays
For planners, venues and organisers
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. At midsummer, it’s light in Yelsted until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- 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.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Before we arrive
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
How we price tapas catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The number of people
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- The paellas you choose
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and rough timings
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Where the event is
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and normally vegetarian.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Drinks receptions around Yelsted
Yelsted is about 3 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Kent. From the centre of Yelsted to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Rainham (Kent) station is about 2.5 miles away. Yelsted is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in ME9, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Yelsted Road and Yelsted Lane or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Stockbury (1 mile east), Meresborough (1 mile north), Hartlip (1 mile north-east), Lower Hartlip (2 miles north-east) and Rainham (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (6 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (5 miles east), Gravesend (12 miles north-west), Faversham (12 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (10 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include KIMS hospital (4 miles south-west). Not far away are Detling Hill.
- Nearby schools include Leigh Academy Rainham (2.2 miles north)
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Space for a serving table or station
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
Should I cook it myself?
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Waiting staff for canapés.
- 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