Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Chilworth, Surrey
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Chilworth and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement celebrations
- Tapas before paella
Live tapas catering in Chilworth
Organising for someone else?
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Tapas catering for your event in Chilworth
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. For sharing boards for evening guests and drinks reception canapés, we will put together a menu of tortilla española, padrón peppers and Serrano ham for your guests.
Near Chilworth, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Unloading access
- Permission from the venue
- Space on each table
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
The process
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. A summer drinks reception in Chilworth has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Chilworth, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Perfect for your event in Chilworth
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Chilworth, people book us for occasions like:
- Engagement drinks
- Evening grazing
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas starters
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Thomas.
Questions to ask before booking
- If the price includes VAT
- Staff numbers and hours
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The wet-weather plan
Also near Chilworth
More for events in Chilworth
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many guests are eating
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The address or venue name
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Which courses you have in mind
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Chilworth: your questions answered
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Thomas: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you come out to small places like Chilworth?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How many paellas should we have?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why us?
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- A quote that spells everything out
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Planning a tapas spread in Chilworth
Chilworth is about 3 miles south-east of Guildford, in Surrey. For tapas catering in Chilworth, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Chilworth is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Chilworth, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. For guests coming by train, Chilworth has its own station, Chilworth station. Chilworth is within about 3 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cater events across GU4. Streets in the area include Old Manor Gardens, Redwood Grove and Blacksmith Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. You will find Chilworth on the A248, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Chilworth, we also cover Blackheath (1 mile south-east), East Shalford (1 mile west), Shalford (1 mile west), Broadford (2 miles west) and Abbotswood (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Guildford (3 miles north-west), Woking (7 miles north), Camberley (12 miles north-west), Epsom (14 miles north-east), Farnham (11 miles west) and Ewell (15 miles north-east).
A little further out are Guildford House (2.2 miles north-west) and Guildford Castle (2.1 miles north-west). Open spaces near Chilworth include Silent Pool and St Martha's Hill.
- Local schools include St Peter's Catholic School (2.2 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Percy Arms (under half a mile east)
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Collect dietary needs
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Crockery and serving dishes.
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
- 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