Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Cheam, Greater London
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Cheam: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement celebrations
Live tapas catering in Cheam
Paella compared with other options
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Events in Cheam and across Greater London
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Tapas catering in Cheam, made fresh on the day
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. Typical bookings include sharing tapas starters and tapas with a paella main course, with croquetas, patatas bravas and albóndigas.
For a London drinks party in Cheam, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Where
- Cheam (SM2, SM3, SM1)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What affects the price in Cheam
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The paellas you choose
- Waiting and bar staff
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The courses you’d like
- Diets and allergies you know about
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and typically vegetarian.
Planning a tapas spread in Cheam
Cheam is about 1 mile south-west of Sutton, in Greater London. For tapas catering in Cheam, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Cheam is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 12 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Cheam station, about 0.6 miles north. A picnic in Howell Hill? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Cheam, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in SM2, SM3 and SM1, we can bring tapas catering to you. We can cater an event on streets such as Wray Road, York Road and The Avenue or the roads around them. We also cook at events in Belmont (1 mile south-east), Cuddington (1 mile north-west), North Looe (1 mile south-west), North Cheam (2 miles north) and Nork (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in London (12 miles north-east), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (12 miles north), Kensington (11 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (14 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam (1 mile north-east) and Chessington Castle Hill (3.5 miles west). The countryside around Cheam includes Duppas Hill and Belmont Pastures.
- Schools near Cheam include Avenue Primary Academy (0.5 miles south-east) and Overton Grange School (0.7 miles north-east)
Your questions about tapas catering in Cheam
Can you cook in Howell Hill?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Which station should guests use for Cheam?
Cheam station, about 0.6 miles north of the centre.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
The process
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. A summer drinks reception in Cheam has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or SM2 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Bar staff and sangria.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Nearby places to Cheam
More for events in Cheam
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Why choose tapas catering in Cheam?
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Cheam and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Launches and office parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Andrew.
Before you book anyone
- What the price includes, item by item
- How bad weather is handled
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- 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