Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Charlwood, Surrey
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Charlwood and the surrounding area.
- Birthday drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Book tapas catering in Charlwood
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Serving boards and crockery.
Tapas catering in Charlwood, made fresh on the day
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. Whether it’s canapés with welcome drinks and evening grazing, we’ll put together a menu of tortilla española, padrón peppers and albóndigas and more.
Near Charlwood, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Why choose tapas catering in Charlwood?
They work for any size of event.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Charlwood, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
- Cocktail parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
A picnic in Edolph's Copse? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
Before you book anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Allergen information for each dish
- Whether VAT is included
- Space, access and power needs
How the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening receptions in Charlwood stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- 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.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning help
For event organisers in Charlwood
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A photo of the space, if you can
Send us the date, your venue or RH6 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Why choose live paella in Charlwood?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Also near Charlwood
What else we do in Charlwood
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Drinks receptions around Charlwood
Charlwood is about 3 miles south-west of Horley, in Surrey. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Charlwood and nearby villages. Charlwood is one of 395 places in Surrey we cover. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 16 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Ifield station, about 2.8 miles south. Historic buildings near Charlwood often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Charlwood, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over the RH6 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on The Street, Yew Tree Road and Rectory Lane or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Russ Hill (1 mile south-west), Norwood Hill (2 miles north), Cudworth (2 miles west), Ifieldwood (2 miles south) and Ifield (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Epsom (13 miles north), Horley (3 miles north-east), Redhill (6 miles north-east), Ewell (14 miles north), Reigate (6 miles north) and Caterham (11 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Crawley Museum (3.1 miles south-east) and County Mall (3.4 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Tilgate Lake.
- Nearby, you will find The Half Moon pub (under half a mile north-west)
Charlwood questions
Is Charlwood close to London?
Roughly 24 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Nicholas?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
How much tapas do we need?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
About the dishes
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
- 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