Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Coldharbour, Greater London
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Coldharbour: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Work receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
Book tapas catering in Coldharbour
Tapas catering in Coldharbour, made fresh on the day
We’ll suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. For birthday drinks and sharing tapas starters, we’ll put together a menu of Serrano ham, albóndigas and croquetas for your guests.
Tapas work well for receptions and parties in Coldharbour, indoors or out. Tell us about access and parking. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Location
- Coldharbour (SE9, BR7)
- Region
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Questions from Coldharbour
Is parking a problem for events in Coldharbour?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will plan unloading around it.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Alban?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Always popular and usually vegetarian.
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
How it works
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Sunset in Coldharbour is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
Who books tapas catering in Coldharbour?
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Engagement parties
- Work receptions
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Parks such as Elmstead Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How bad weather is handled
Drinks receptions around Coldharbour
Coldharbour is about 4 miles north-west of Orpington, in Greater London. Whether your event is in the middle of Coldharbour or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 764 towns and villages in Greater London. You can also see our page for London, about 8 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Eltham Palace (1.1 miles north) and Bromley Palace (2.3 miles south-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Historic buildings near Coldharbour often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Tapas catering in SE9 and BR7 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on Green Lane, Horley Road and Dorset Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Coldharbour, we also cover Mottingham (1 mile west), Chinbrook (1 mile west), New Eltham (1 mile north-east), Eltham (1 mile north) and Middle Park (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include London (8 miles north-west), City of Westminster (11 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (12 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (9 miles north-west).
A little further out are Municipal Borough of Bromley (2.6 miles south-west) and Eltham Community Hospital (1.3 miles north). Not far away are The Tarn and Summer Hill.
- Local schools include St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive School (1.2 miles north)
What affects the price in Coldharbour
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Whether you need crockery
- Travel, parking and access
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The courses you’d like
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The address or venue name
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Canapés need staff to serve
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Serving boards and crockery.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space on each table
As a London location, Coldharbour is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Coldharbour
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
Towns and villages near Coldharbour
Other catering in Coldharbour
Is live paella right for your event?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why Coldharbour hosts choose us
- Catering across Greater London, including Coldharbour
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
- 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