Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Alfold, Surrey
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Alfold. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Engagement parties
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas and paella menus
Live tapas catering in Alfold
Tapas catering in Alfold, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. For canapés with welcome drinks and launches and office parties, we can cook Serrano ham, gambas al ajillo and albóndigas.
For a country party near Alfold, tapas and sangria set the mood. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Label seafood clearly
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Serving boards and crockery.
Your questions about tapas catering in Alfold
Is Alfold too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Could we have live paella in Fir Tree Copse?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you cook tapas on site?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Catering across Surrey, including Alfold
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Drinks receptions around Alfold
Alfold is about 9 miles west of Horsham, in Surrey. Whether your event is in the middle of Alfold or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 11 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Nicholas, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
This part of Surrey takes in GU6. We can cater an event on streets such as Chapel Field Close, Loxwood Road and Cypress Grove or the roads around them. Other places close to Alfold for tapas catering include Alfold Bars (1 mile south), Loxwood (1 mile south), Ifold (2 miles south), Durfold Wood (3 miles west) and Plaistow (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Guildford (11 miles north), Woking (15 miles north), Farnham (14 miles north-west), Dorking (12 miles north-east), Haslemere (9 miles west) and Cranleigh (3 miles north-east).
Not far away are Shillinglee Lake.
- Local pubs include The Crown pub (under half a mile south-west)
What tapas catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Expected numbers
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The venue or postcode
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Alfold? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
What we need at the venue
We’ll be honest if a space will not work. The main points are:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Space for a serving table or station
- Venue approval for outside catering
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
Organising for someone else?
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
How it works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. A summer drinks reception in Alfold has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Nearby places to Alfold
Also in Alfold
- 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