West Berkshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Fair Cross, West Berkshire
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Fair Cross.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering near Fair Cross
How our tapas catering works in Fair Cross
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. Whether it is engagement drinks and sharing tapas starters, we can cook padrón peppers, Serrano ham and croquetas.
In a rural spot like Fair Cross, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Area
- Fair Cross (RG7)
- Area hub
- West Berkshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Common questions in Fair Cross
Is Fair Cross too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St. Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
How many tapas per person?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Who books tapas catering in Fair Cross?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Fair Cross, people book us for events such as:
- Tapas before paella
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas starters
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Guests travelling by rail: Mortimer station is about 1.7 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- How bad weather is handled
- VAT, if it applies
- Travel and parking costs
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Crockery and serving dishes.
How we price tapas catering
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
- How many guests are eating
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
About the dishes
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Receptions and parties in Fair Cross
Fair Cross is about 6 miles east of Tadley, in West Berkshire. For an event in Fair Cross, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover all 155 towns and villages across West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 6 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Stratfield Saye House (0.7 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St. Mary the Virgin.
Wherever your event is in RG7, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. If your venue is just outside Fair Cross, we also cover Stratfield Saye (1 mile south-west), West End Green (2 miles west), Stratfield Mortimer (2 miles north-west), Spanish Green (2 miles south) and Wokefield (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Newbury (14 miles west), Thatcham (11 miles west), Burghfield Common (4 miles north-west), Speenhamland (14 miles west), Spencers Wood (3 miles north-east) and Calcot (6 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Beaumys Castle (1.5 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Longwater and The Marshes Local Nature Reserve.
How it 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. Sunset in Fair Cross is around 9:25pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like 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.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
Places near Fair Cross
What else we do in Fair Cross
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- 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