Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Aldersbrook, Greater London
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Aldersbrook.
- Cocktail parties
- Work receptions
- Birthday drinks
Tapas catering in Aldersbrook
Tapas catering in Aldersbrook, cooked live
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. We are often asked to cater engagement celebrations and office parties and launches, serving Serrano ham, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
For a London drinks party in Aldersbrook, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Aldersbrook (E11, E12, E7)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Label seafood clearly
- Include staff for canapés
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Add sangria or cava
Afterwards, we clear away.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Towns and villages near Aldersbrook
Other catering in Aldersbrook
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, it’s light in Aldersbrook until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Tell 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 pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Who books tapas catering in Aldersbrook?
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Sharing boards for evening guests
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Gabriel, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Questions to ask before booking
- Who provides the crockery
- Whether travel is included
- When payment is due
- What the price includes, item by item
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Aldersbrook: venues and local tips
Aldersbrook is about 1 mile north of Forest Gate, in Greater London. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Aldersbrook and the surrounding area. Aldersbrook is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook. Our events stretch from Aldersbrook to London (about 7 miles away).
Historic buildings near Aldersbrook often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Nearby historic houses include Valentines Mansion (1.5 miles north-east) and Eastbury Manor House (3.4 miles south-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
For tapas catering in E11, E12 and E7, we plan around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on Dover Road, Merlin Road and Belfry Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Aldersbrook is on the A116, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Close by, we cover events in Bushwood Area of Leytonstone (1 mile west), Forest Gate (1 mile south), Wanstead (1 mile north), Leytonstone (1 mile west) and Redbridge (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (7 miles south-west), City of Westminster (9 miles south-west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (11 miles south-west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Stratford Centre (2.1 miles south-west) and Wanstead Hospital (1.5 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
- Schools near Aldersbrook include Wanstead High School (0.8 miles north) and Tyndale Academy (1.3 miles south)
- Nearby, you will find The George pub (0.9 miles north)
- Local facilities include Cann Hall (1 mile west)
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Room for a tapas table
- Permission from the venue
- Space on each table
As a London location, Aldersbrook is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Is live paella right for your event?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Aldersbrook hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Which courses you have in mind
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Aldersbrook, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Questions from Aldersbrook
Is parking a problem for events in Aldersbrook?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll plan unloading around it.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Gabriel?
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.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Do you come to Aldersbrook?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Aldersbrook is within our area. For a quote, use our quote form.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How much tapas do we need?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
- 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