Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Badshot Lea, Surrey
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Badshot Lea. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Work receptions
- Tapas starters
Live tapas catering in Badshot Lea
Tapas catering in Badshot Lea, cooked live
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include tapas and paella menus and engagement drinks, with patatas bravas, tortilla española and padrón peppers.
In a rural spot like Badshot Lea, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Common questions in Badshot Lea
Could we have live paella in Weybourne LNR?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
How far is Badshot Lea from London?
About 34 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
How many tapas per person?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you are providing the drinks.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
For planners, venues and organisers
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Badshot Lea? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Add sangria or cava
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Bar staff and sangria.
Perfect for your event in Badshot Lea
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Badshot Lea:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas and paella menus
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement drinks
A picnic in Weybourne LNR? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering.
What your quote should include
- How long the team stays
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- When payment is due
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Badshot Lea has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. 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.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Give us a contact for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning help
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Live paella or other catering?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- A quote that spells everything out
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Space, weather and the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work. The main points are:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Room for a tapas table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
What else we do in Badshot Lea
Tapas for events in Badshot Lea
Badshot Lea is about 1 mile south of Aldershot, in Surrey. For an event in Badshot Lea, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cater in 395 places in Surrey. Our events stretch from Badshot Lea to Guildford (about 8 miles away).
Historic buildings near Badshot Lea often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Aldershot station, about 1.2 miles north.
Here we cover the GU9 postcode area. From Badshot Lea Road, The Green and Beech Tree Drive or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Main roads around Badshot Lea include the B3208, which makes travel to your event easy. If your venue is just outside Badshot Lea, we also cover Weybourne (1 mile north-west), Hale (1 mile west), Heath End (1 mile north-west), Compton (1 mile south) and Aldershot (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Guildford (8 miles east), Woking (10 miles north-east), Camberley (7 miles north), Frimley (6 miles north), Haslemere (10 miles south) and Cranleigh (14 miles south-east).
A little further out are Farnham Castle (1.8 miles south-west) and Museum of Farnham (2.1 miles south-west). Not far away are Aunt's Pool and Rowhill Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Badshot Lea include All Hallows Catholic School (0.6 miles north-west) and The Connaught School (1.2 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include Shepherd & Flock pub (0.9 miles south-west)
- Local facilities include Prince Consort's Library (1.8 miles north) and Seale and Tongham (1.8 miles east)
- 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