Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Ash, Surrey
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Ash. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement drinks
- Anniversary parties
Live tapas catering in Ash
How our tapas catering works in Ash
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. Typical bookings include tapas starters and welcome-drink canapés, serving Serrano ham, gambas al ajillo and tortilla española.
Around Ash, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Drinks receptions around Ash
Ash is about 2 miles east of Aldershot, in Surrey. For tapas catering in Ash, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Ash. We cover all 395 towns and villages across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Ash to Guildford (6 miles away).
Parks such as Aldershot Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Historic buildings near Ash often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Wherever your event is in GU12 and GU10, we can bring tapas catering to you. Your event could be at a home on Ash Church Road, Square Field Way and Littlefield Close. Being close to the A331 and B3206, Ash is easy for us to reach for your event. Close by, we cover events in Ash Green (1 mile east), Tongham (1 mile south-west), Ash Vale (1 mile north), Seale (2 miles south) and Aldershot (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (6 miles east), Woking (8 miles north-east), Camberley (6 miles north), Farnham (4 miles south-west), Egham (15 miles north-east) and Frimley (5 miles north).
A little further out are Ash Museum (within half a mile north-east) and Guildford Hospital (4.8 miles east). The countryside around Ash includes Rowhill Nature Reserve and Hog's Back.
- Schools near Ash include Ash Manor School (0.5 miles south-west) and The Connaught School (1 mile south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Dover Arms (0.6 miles north-east)
- Other local spots include Seale and Tongham (1.8 miles south)
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Unloading access
- Space to finish hot dishes
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Bar staff and sangria.
More for events in Ash
Common questions in Ash
Could we have live paella in Aldershot Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
What’s the nearest station to Ash for guests?
The closest is Ash station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
How many paellas should we have?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely.
Do you cover Ash?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Ash and across Surrey. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Can we add drinks?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. Sunset in Ash is around 9:20pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning help
Events we cater in Ash
They work for any size of event.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening sharing boards
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Peter, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- The wet-weather plan
- How long the team stays
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The number of people
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many staff you need
- Distance and access to the venue
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the space, if you can
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Ash, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Is live paella right for your event?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
- 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