Surrey · England
Tapas Catering for Dorking events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Dorking: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas starters
- Work receptions
Tapas catering in Dorking
What’s in the pans
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Tapas catering for your event in Dorking
Sangria and bar staff can be added, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Popular choices include albóndigas, gambas al ajillo and croquetas, and we are frequently booked for tapas before paella and evening sharing boards.
In Dorking, tapas and paella together make a complete menu. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
Where we can cook in Dorking
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space for a serving table or station
- Venue approval for outside catering
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Check diets in advance
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Add sangria or cava
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Bar staff and sangria.
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Dorking
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Common questions in Dorking
Can you cook in Deepdene Terrace?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Paul?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you come to Dorking?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Dorking. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Nearby places to Dorking
Other catering in Dorking
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
How the day works
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Sunset in Dorking is around 9:20pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Planners, venues and businesses
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Why choose tapas catering in Dorking?
They work for any size of event.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening sharing boards
- Drinks reception canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Paul.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the price includes, item by item
Tapas for events in Dorking
Dorking is about 10 miles north-west of Crawley, in Surrey. For tapas catering in Dorking, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 395 places across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Dorking to Guildford (about 11 miles away).
A picnic in Deepdene Terrace? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. If you are looking at a historic venue around Dorking, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Dorking, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the RH4 and RH5 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include High Street, Station Road and London Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Main roads around Dorking include the A24 and A25, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. For events just outside Dorking, we cover Pixham (1 mile north-east), North Holmwood (1 mile south), Westhumble (2 miles north), Westcott (2 miles west) and Blackbrook (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (11 miles west), Woking (12 miles north-west), Epsom (8 miles north), Horley (8 miles south-east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (9 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Mesolithic Museum (3.9 miles south-west) and Headley Court (4.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Reigate Heath and Box Hill.
- Schools near Dorking include The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north) and The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Wheatsheaf Public House (under half a mile north-west)
- Local facilities include Pippbrook House (0.5 miles north)
- 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