Surrey · England
Tapas Catering in Elstead
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Elstead and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Office parties and launches
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Live tapas catering in Elstead
About our tapas catering in Elstead
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. On the menu are Serrano ham, albóndigas and patatas bravas, and typical bookings are for tapas before paella and canapés with welcome drinks.
Tapas make a party in Elstead easy and sociable. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated.
Occasions we cook for in Elstead
Big or small, tapas work.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Elstead and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Engagement drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Evening grazing
- Work receptions
Nearby historic houses include Wanborough Manor (3.7 miles north-east) and Loseley Park (4.7 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- The venue requirements
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Label seafood clearly
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Tell us what role tapas play
Each dish is labelled.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
What affects the price in Elstead
These are the factors that matter most:
- How long we are needed on site
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- The date and rough timings
- The courses you’d like
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything your venue supplies
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Should I cook it 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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Also near Elstead
Also in Elstead
Where we can cook in Elstead
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Room for a tapas table
- Unloading access
- Venue approval for outside catering
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
How the day works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, it is light in Elstead 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.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Planning a tapas spread in Elstead
Elstead is about 4 miles south-east of Farnham, in Surrey. Give us the address of your event in Elstead, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. Elstead is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. Our events stretch from Elstead to Guildford (7 miles away).
Parks such as Thundry Meadows have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Guests travelling by rail: Milford (Surrey) station is about 3.1 miles away. Elstead is within about 5 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cater events across GU8. From Springfield, Orchard Close and Back Lane or a nearby road, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Elstead, we also cover Charleshill (1 mile north-west), Tilford (2 miles west), Tilford Common (2 miles west), Thursley (2 miles south) and Rushmoor (3 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Guildford (7 miles north-east), Woking (11 miles north-east), Camberley (10 miles north), Farnham (4 miles north-west), Frimley (9 miles north) and Haslemere (7 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Milford Hospital (3.4 miles east) and Seale and Tongham (2.7 miles north-west). Not far away are Culverswell Hill and Upper Lake.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Woolpack pub (less than half a mile north-west)
Live paella or other catering?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Elstead hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Events in Elstead and across Surrey
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
FAQs for Elstead
Could we have live paella in Thundry Meadows?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Do you cater in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you provide serving staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
How much tapas do we need?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Give us the details and we will advise.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
- 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