Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Charlton, Surrey
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Charlton and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Evening sharing boards
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement celebrations
Tapas catering for Charlton events
Tapas catering in Charlton, cooked live
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings in and around Charlton. Typical bookings include work receptions and birthday drinks, with tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Charlton, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A spot for our serving station
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Evening receptions in Charlton stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
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Your questions about tapas catering in Charlton
Is Charlton close to London?
Roughly 16 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary Magdalene?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Is live paella right for your event?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- We cover Charlton and the whole of Surrey
- Live cooking, not reheated food
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, often with ham or mushroom.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Staff to serve canapés.
Drinks receptions around Charlton
Charlton is about 1 mile west of Sunbury-on-Thames, in Surrey. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Charlton and the surrounding area. We cover 395 places across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 13 miles away.
Parks such as Sunbury Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Charlton, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Here we cover the TW17 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on Lodge Way, Charlton Road and Hetherington Road. Other places close to Charlton for tapas catering include Littleton Common (1 mile north), Upper Halliford (1 mile south-east), Ashford Common (1 mile north), Shepperton Green (1 mile south-west) and Littleton (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (13 miles south-west), Woking (9 miles south-west), Camberley (13 miles south-west), Epsom (9 miles south-east), Ewell (9 miles south-east) and Egham (5 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Kempton Steam Museum (2 miles north-east) and No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital (1.9 miles south-east). Open spaces near Charlton include St Ann's Hill and Ferris Meadow Lake.
- Nearby schools include The Bishop Wand Church of England School (0.8 miles east) and Sunbury Manor School (1 mile east)
Also near Charlton
Other catering in Charlton
What tapas catering costs
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- The length of service
- Whether you need crockery
- How many courses
- The number of people
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The address or venue name
- The courses you’d like
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Why choose tapas catering in Charlton?
Tapas are sociable food.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Charlton book us for events such as:
- Launches and office parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
- Evening grazing
Guests travelling by rail: Upper Halliford station is about 0.6 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether VAT is included
- The wet-weather plan
- The venue requirements
- Payment terms and deposit
- 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