Surrey · England
Tapas Catering for Chelsham events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Chelsham: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Birthday drinks
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Office parties and launches
Planning an event in Chelsham?
About our tapas catering in Chelsham
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. For birthday and anniversary parties and evening sharing boards, we will put together a menu of padrón peppers, tortilla española and gambas al ajillo and more.
Near Chelsham, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Parking near the venue
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Permission from the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
Common questions in Chelsham
Is Chelsham close to London?
Roughly 13 miles from the centre of London.
Could we have live paella in Ledgers Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Do you cater in Chelsham?
We do. We cook at events in Chelsham and across Surrey. Send us your date to check availability.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Live paella or other catering?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
What affects the price in Chelsham
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Your choice of paellas
- Travel, parking and access
- The length of service
- How many courses
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Tapas for events in Chelsham
Chelsham is about 3 miles north-east of Caterham, in Surrey. Give us the address of your event in Chelsham, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Chelsham is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. Our nearest city page is London, about 13 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin. Historic buildings near Chelsham often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
We cook at events all over the CR6 postcode area. Streets in the area include Chelsham Common and Chelsham Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Chelsham, we cover Farleigh (1 mile north), Warlingham (1 mile west), Hamsey Green (1 mile west), Fickleshole (1 mile north-east) and New Addington (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Epsom (10 miles west), Horley (11 miles south-west), Redhill (8 miles south-west), Ewell (10 miles west), Reigate (9 miles south-west) and Caterham (3 miles south-west).
A little further out are Warlingham Park Hospital (less than half a mile north) and East Surrey Museum (3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Hutchinson's Bank and Nore Hill.
- Nearby schools include Warlingham School (1.6 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include Hare & Hounds pub (0.7 miles south-west)
How it works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. At midsummer, it’s light in Chelsham until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Who books tapas catering in Chelsham?
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Chelsham and Surrey:
- Evening grazing
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
A picnic in Ledgers Wood? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- A clear list of what’s included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Also near Chelsham
Also in Chelsham
- 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