Wokingham · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Barkham, Wokingham
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Barkham.
- Evening grazing
- Drinks reception canapés
- Office parties and launches
Tapas catering in Barkham
What tapas catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Timings and hours
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- What the venue already provides
- Expected numbers
- The courses you’d like
- A photo of the space, if you can
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Tapas catering in Barkham, made fresh on the day
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. Whether it’s tapas starters and birthday drinks, we will put together a menu of Serrano ham, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo and more.
Near Barkham, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
Common questions in Barkham
How far is Barkham from London?
About 34 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Could we have live paella in Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Absolutely.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Check diets in advance
- Canapés need staff to serve
Afterwards, we clear away.
Bar staff and sangria.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
The process
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. At midsummer, it’s light in Barkham until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- 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
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Planning help
Where we can cook in Barkham
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Room for a tapas table
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- An area to prepare hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
Tapas for events in Barkham
Barkham is about 2 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Wokingham. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Barkham. Barkham is one of 35 towns and villages in Wokingham where we cook. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 6 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Barkham, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. A picnic in Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering.
Here we cover the RG40 and RG41 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Barkham Road and Barkham Street. If your venue is just outside Barkham, we also cover Langley Common (1 mile west), Arborfield Garrison (1 mile south-west), California (1 mile south), Finchampstead (3 miles south) and Eversley (3 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Reading (6 miles north-west), Woodley (4 miles north), Earley (3 miles north-west), Crowthorne (4 miles south-east), Lower Earley (3 miles north-west) and Newtown (5 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (1.9 miles north) and Wokingham Hospital (1.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Barkham include Heath Lake and Holt Copse & Joel Park.
- Nearby schools include Bohunt School Wokingham (1.4 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Bull Public House And Smithy (under half a mile west)
Nearby places to Barkham
More for events in Barkham
Occasions we cook for in Barkham
Big or small, tapas work.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Barkham, people book us for events such as:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Work receptions
- Engagement celebrations
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Wokingham station, about 1.9 miles north-east.
Comparing caterers
- If the price includes VAT
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Travel and parking costs
- What happens if it rains
- 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