Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Croydon events
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Croydon and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Welcome-drink canapés
Tapas catering for Croydon events
About our tapas catering in Croydon
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. Popular choices include albóndigas, croquetas and Serrano ham, and we are frequently booked for birthday and anniversary parties and engagement drinks.
Tapas work well for receptions and parties in Croydon, in a home, a venue or an office. Let us know about parking and loading. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Croydon (CR0, CR2, CR9, CR8)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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.
Who books tapas catering in Croydon?
Big or small, tapas work.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Engagement drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Evening grazing
- Tapas and paella menus
Guests travelling by rail: South Croydon station is in Croydon itself.
Questions to ask before you book
- The venue requirements
- Whether VAT is included
- When payment is due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Drinks receptions around Croydon
Croydon is about 9 miles south of London, in Greater London. Events in Croydon are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Croydon is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook. Our events stretch from Croydon to London (9 miles away).
Historic houses near Croydon include Addington Palace (2.5 miles east) and Kingswood House (4.4 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Andrew's.
For tapas catering in CR0, CR2, CR9 and CR8, we plan around your venue and timings. From High Street, Church Road and Ruskin Square or a nearby road, we can cook there. Croydon sits on or near the A235 and B243, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. For events just outside Croydon, we cover South Croydon (1 mile south), Coombe (1 mile east), Addiscombe (2 miles north-east), Ashburton (2 miles north-east) and Woodside (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (9 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north), Marylebone (11 miles north), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (11 miles north) and Shoreditch (11 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (1.2 miles south-west) and Croydon University Hospital (1.7 miles north). The countryside around Croydon includes Roundshaw Downs and Duppas Hill.
- Nearby schools include Cambridge Tutors College (under half a mile east) and Rutherford School (0.9 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include Keg & Grill pub (less than half a mile west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include County Borough of Croydon (under half a mile north-west)
Your questions about tapas catering in Croydon
Is parking a problem for events in Croydon?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll work around it.
What’s the nearest station to Croydon for guests?
South Croydon station, in Croydon itself.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
How the day works
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. At midsummer, it’s light in Croydon until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. 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.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Travel, parking and access
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
- The paellas you choose
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and rough timings
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Croydon, 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:
- Collect dietary needs
- Include staff for canapés
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Make sure dishes are labelled
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Is live paella right for your event?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Drinks service on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Nearby places to Croydon
More for events in Croydon
Before you choose a spot
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A spot for our serving station
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Parking near the venue
As a London location, Croydon is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
For event organisers in Croydon
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Croydon? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
- 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