Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Custom House, Greater London
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Custom House: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement drinks
- Office parties and launches
Planning an event in Custom House?
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Drinks service on request
- We cover Custom House and the whole of Greater London
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Tapas catering in Custom House, cooked live
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Lots of events do both. Popular choices include tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and padrón peppers, and we’re often booked for work receptions and sharing boards for evening guests.
In Custom House, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, indoors or out. Tell us about access and parking. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- Custom House (E16, E13)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Evening receptions in Custom House stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to Custom House
What else we do in Custom House
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Collect dietary needs
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Waiting staff for canapés.
For event organisers in Custom House
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Custom House questions
Which station should guests use for Custom House?
Custom House station, in Custom House itself.
Can you cook in Thames Barrier Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Do you cover Custom House?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Custom House. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you do sangria?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you are providing the drinks.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Who books tapas catering in Custom House?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
In Custom House and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Engagement drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday drinks
Historic houses near Custom House include Queen's House (2.3 miles south-west) and Eastbury Manor House (3.5 miles north-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Questions to ask before you book
- The wet-weather plan
- Allergen information for each dish
- Staff numbers and hours
- A clear list of what’s included
Custom House: venues and local tips
Custom House is about 1 mile south of Canning Town, in Greater London. Wherever your event is in the E16 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cater in 764 places in Greater London.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Matthew's Church. A picnic in Thames Barrier Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
We cover events in every part of the E16 and E13 postcode area and the streets around it. From Tree Road, Ethel Road and Booth Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. With the A1020 close by, Custom House is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. Other places close to Custom House for tapas catering include West Silvertown (1 mile south-west), Silvertown (1 mile south), Canning Town (1 mile north), Royal Docks (1 mile east) and Limmo Peninsula (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in London (5 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include East Ham (2 miles north-east) and Greenwich Castle (2.5 miles south-west). The countryside around Custom House includes Gilbert's Pit and Tower Hill.
- Local schools include Royal Docks Academy (within half a mile north-east) and The Royal Docks Community School (less than half a mile north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Connaught Tavern (under half a mile east)
About the dishes
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Where we can cook in Custom House
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Permission from the venue
- Space to finish hot dishes
Custom House is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- 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