Slow-Cooked Food, Done the Right Way
At Barbecues with Relish, we’ve always believed that good food brings people closer together, and that belief shapes everything we do. It all started with one man’s love of cooking outdoors, and it has grown into a go-to name for BBQ Catering Tonbridge residents trust for weddings, garden parties, work events and birthdays. Whatever you have planned, our aim is simple: guests leaving happy and still talking about the food.
We build our menus around seasonal, local ingredients. Meats are cooked slowly so they’re tender and full of flavour, sides are made to be enjoyed rather than pushed to the edge of the plate, and marinades are mixed by hand in our own kitchen. It takes time and effort, and that’s exactly why it tastes the way it does.
For us, barbecue catering has never been just about what’s on the plate. It’s the sound of the grill, the smell of smoke in the air and the queue of hungry guests that make it special.
Over Forty Years in the Business
It’s now more than 40 years since we started, which still surprises us. Barbecues with Relish began as a small family business and has grown, step by step, into a well-known name for outdoor catering across Tonbridge and West Kent. Our enthusiasm for great food hasn’t faded one bit.
By now we’ve catered almost every kind of event you can think of, from cosy garden gatherings to large wedding receptions and corporate functions with well over a hundred guests. All that experience means we know how to read the mood and serve food that fits the occasion.
We create every menu from scratch, based on your preferences, your event and any dietary needs your guests may have. We use the freshest local produce available, and every dish is cooked and finished with care.
A small get-together, a milestone party or a large corporate event all get the same mix of quality, creativity and warmth from our team. If you want catering that turns a good day into a great one, you’re in the right place.
The Barbecues with Relish Experience
A great barbecue isn’t only about what’s on the plate. Half the fun is the chatter, the smoke and people hovering near the grill waiting for the next batch. We bring that feeling to parties all over Tonbridge, and it’s why our BBQ Catering Tonbridge service feels nothing like a caterer who drops off a few trays and vanishes.
We care about the small stuff. How the table looks, when the burgers come off, whether the veggie guests got enough. We keep an eye on all of it so you don’t have to. Chilled garden party or something grander, tell us what you’re picturing and we’ll work backwards from there.
Planned Around Your Day
We don’t sell set packages. Tell us about your day, how many are coming and what you fancy eating, and we’ll plan the food from there. Small garden party, smart wedding, big staff do. It all works.
Full-Service Catering
Hand the whole thing over to us. We set up, cook, serve and clear away afterwards, and you get to stay with your guests instead of being stuck behind a grill.
Dry Hire Options
Want to be in charge of the grill? We can hire you professional barbecue equipment and give you advice whenever you need it.
Quality You Can Taste
We’re very particular about our ingredients. Everything is sourced locally where possible, prepared with care and made from the best cuts available, so each dish is served with real flair.
Everyone Loves a Barbecue
Put a barbecue on and people wander over. It happens every time, and it’s our favourite part of the job. Family parties, weddings, community days, we keep things relaxed and make sure the food is worth queueing for.
The Relish Difference
Honest Food, Made with Care
We believe great barbecue begins with genuinely caring about the food. Every dish we serve is packed with smoky flavour and real effort, because we want people to remember the meal long after the day is over.
Menus Made for You
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all menus. Instead, we design each one around the flavours you enjoy, the feel you want and the guests you're inviting, with crowd favourites, unique dishes and dietary-friendly options all available.
Good Ingredients, Proper Kit
We buy fresh from local suppliers and cook on proper commercial kit. Starters, mains, pudding, it all gets the same care.
Smooth Service for Any Size of Event
However large or small your event, our team keeps the service running smoothly. Years of experience mean plates stay full and guests stay happy, without any fuss.
Friendly, Professional and Dependable
Good catering comes down to trust. We turn up when we said we would, get set up without a fuss and keep an eye on things all day. Friendly faces, but we know what we're doing.
The Bits People Remember
Some of the best bits of any barbecue happen around the grill: a joke, a second helping, someone asking what's in the marinade. Book our BBQ Catering Tonbridge team and you get the food and that easy, happy feel people remember afterwards.
How Our Story Began
Barbecues with Relish has been part of the local food scene for decades, growing from a small family business into a name many people know and trust. It started life as Christopher Anthony Catering, founded by Chris Bowden, who wanted to offer event catering done properly. Through hard work and a real love of food, the business built a strong reputation for wedding and event catering throughout the region.
In 2009, the company became Relish, a new name that better reflected its growing style and interests. A couple of years later, Barbecues with Relish was launched as a dedicated outdoor catering service, focused on slow-cooked meats, tasty sides and relaxed dining in the fresh air.
In 2013, we expanded again by launching Relish Equipment Hire, supplying everything from crockery and cutlery to bars and refrigeration. That means our clients can have their whole event looked after by one team instead of dealing with several different suppliers.
Today, our focus hasn’t changed: bold flavours, local produce and genuine hospitality at every event. Barbecues with Relish is known for quality and experience, and above all, for the simple pleasure of sharing good food.
Weddings, Parties and Events with Barbecues with Relish
Memorable Weddings with BBQ Catering Tonbridge Couples Love
Your wedding day should reflect your personalities, not a standard menu served at every other event. We bring plenty of passion and experience to each wedding, creating dishes that combine classic flavours with a few modern ideas your guests will still be mentioning weeks later.
Every couple has their own idea of the perfect day, so nothing is fixed. Relaxed garden reception? Posh outdoor dinner? Either is fine. We’ll plan around your theme, your numbers and any allergies, and we buy seasonal ingredients from suppliers nearby.
We’re with you from the first chat to the last course, tastings included. Couples tell their friends about us because the service is as good as the food, and that means a lot to us.
Private Parties and Celebrations
Great Barbecue Food for Your Next Party
Whether it’s a big birthday, an anniversary or a summer party in the garden, we’ll make sure the food matches the occasion, with flavourful barbecue catering designed around your event.
No two parties feel the same, so the menu shouldn’t either. Think juicy grilled meats, veggie dishes people actually want to eat, and colourful sides that change with the season.
Everything is fresh and local, and we want it looking good on the plate too. Buffet, live grill station or sit-down meal? Pick one and leave the running of it to us.
Hosts often tell us they barely had to lift a finger. That’s how we like it. We sweat the details so the day feels easy for you.
Barbecues for Businesses
Feed Your Team Properly
Staff lunches, networking evenings, product launches, client drinks. We’ve cooked for all of them, and we’d be happy to cook for yours.
Every company is a bit different, so we’ll talk through your plans, your brand and your venue before suggesting anything. It might be a casual barbecue buffet, a live cooking station or a smart plated service. We’ll help you pick what fits.
Our food is made with good seasonal produce and it looks the part too. Ten people or two hundred, it’s the same deal: big flavours, a well-organised team and service you won’t need to chase.
We look after it all, from your first email to clearing the last plate. Local firms keep booking our BBQ Catering Tonbridge service because their guests leave impressed, and that’s the best advert we could ask for.
More Than Just Food
The food matters, of course. But what we really love is seeing people get together and have a good time. When we’re running your event, it ends up feeling like a proper occasion, not just a meal.
Planning an event in Tonbridge? Let us bring the experience and the flavour. Contact us today to start creating your menu and find out why so many people choose us for BBQ Catering Tonbridge.
