Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Crawley, Hampshire
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Crawley.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Receptions and drinks parties
Tapas catering in Crawley
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Tapas catering in Crawley, cooked live
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; for seated meals, table tapas. Many events have both. Whether it is office parties and launches and tapas before paella, we will put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and albóndigas for your guests.
For a country party near Crawley, tapas and sangria set the mood. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
More for events in Crawley
Your questions about tapas catering in Crawley
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Crawley close to London?
Roughly 62 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
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.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How it works
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. A summer drinks reception in Crawley has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or SO21 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
What tapas catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How many staff you need
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many guests are eating
- Timings and hours
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Where the event is
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Events we cater in Crawley
They work for any size of event.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Crawley, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Comparing caterers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Staff numbers and hours
- A clear list of what’s included
- When final numbers are due
Why choose live paella in Crawley?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- We cover Crawley and the whole of Hampshire
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Add sangria or cava
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Check diets in advance
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Bar staff and sangria.
Before you choose a spot
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- A spot for our serving station
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Crawley
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
Drinks receptions around Crawley
Crawley is about 5 miles north-west of Winchester, in Hampshire. Anywhere in SO21, we can cook for your guests. Crawley is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. Our events stretch from Crawley to Southampton (13 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Winchester station, about 4.5 miles south-east.
Anywhere in SO21, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Nearby, we also cater events in Worthy Down (3 miles east), South Wonston (3 miles east), Sutton Scotney (4 miles north-east), Barton Stacey (4 miles north) and Springvale (4 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (5 miles south-east), Eastleigh (10 miles south), Andover (8 miles north-west), Totton (14 miles south), Chandler's Ford (9 miles south) and Hedge End (14 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Winchester Castle (4.8 miles south-east) and Royal Hampshire County Hospital (4.5 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Winnall Moors.
- Nearby, you’ll find Fox And Hounds Public House (under half a mile south-east)
- 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