Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Coldharbour, Surrey
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Coldharbour: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas before paella
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering near Coldharbour
For planners, venues and organisers
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Tapas catering in Coldharbour, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. We’re frequently asked to cater office parties and launches and birthday drinks, with padrón peppers, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Coldharbour, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Towns and villages near Coldharbour
Other catering in Coldharbour
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Where we can cook in Coldharbour
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Venue approval for outside catering
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
Always popular and normally vegetarian.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. A summer drinks reception in Coldharbour has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Coldharbour: your questions answered
Is Coldharbour close to London?
About 25 miles from central London.
Could we have live paella in Wotton and Abinger Commons?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Tapas for events in Coldharbour
Coldharbour is about 4 miles south of Dorking, in Surrey. Anywhere in RH5, we can bring the pans to you. Coldharbour is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 10 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Christ Church. Parks such as Wotton and Abinger Commons have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about a mile of Coldharbour, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cook at events all over RH5 and the streets around it. If your venue is just outside Coldharbour, we also cover Abinger Bottom (2 miles north-west), South Holmwood (2 miles north-east), Holmwood Corner (2 miles east), Friday Street (2 miles north-west) and Beare Green (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (10 miles north-west), Woking (13 miles north-west), Epsom (11 miles north), Horley (8 miles east), Redhill (9 miles north-east) and Ewell (13 miles north).
A little further out are Mesolithic Museum (2.6 miles north-west) and Abinger Castle (2.6 miles north-west). Not far away are Vann Lake and Leith Hill.
- Local pubs include Plough Inn (within half a mile north-east)
Occasions we cook for in Coldharbour
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
- Anniversary parties
Historic buildings near Coldharbour often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
- Who provides the crockery
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Why us?
- Catering across Surrey, including Coldharbour
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at How we price Or What paella 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