Surrey · England
Tapas Catering in Fairlands
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Fairlands. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday drinks
Tapas catering near Fairlands
About our tapas catering in Fairlands
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. We cook patatas bravas, Manchego with membrillo and Serrano ham, and we are often booked for table tapas as a starter and drinks reception canapés.
Near Fairlands, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Space for a serving table or station
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Fairlands
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
How we price tapas catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Guest numbers
- How many courses
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many staff you need
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell usually draws people over. Evening receptions in Fairlands stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Give us a contact for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
Planning tapas catering in Fairlands? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to Fairlands
More for events in Fairlands
Planning a tapas spread in Fairlands
Fairlands is about 2 miles north-west of Guildford, in Surrey. For tapas catering in Fairlands, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover 395 places across Surrey.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Alban's Church. For guests coming by train, Guildford station is about 2.4 miles away. Fairlands is within about 8 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Surrey takes in GU3. We can cater an event on streets such as Dynevor Place, Brooke Forest and Kiln Meadows or the roads around them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Wood Street Village (1 mile south-west), Worplesdon (1 mile north), Willey Green (2 miles west), Stanford Common (2 miles north-west) and Onslow Village (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Woking (4 miles north-east), Camberley (7 miles north-west), Farnham (8 miles south-west), Egham (12 miles north), Walton-on-Thames (12 miles north-east) and Dorking (13 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Guildford Castle (2.8 miles south-east) and Guildford Cathedral Treasury (1.9 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Littlefield Common and Pewley Hill.
- Local schools include Rydes Hill Preparatory School (1 mile south-east) and Kings College Guildford (1.3 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include Hare and Hounds pub (0.8 miles south-east)
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Who books tapas catering in Fairlands?
Tapas get people talking.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Fairlands, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
- Engagement parties
- Launches and office parties
Historic buildings near Fairlands often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Questions to ask before booking
- What the price includes, item by item
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
- How each diet is kept separate
Your questions about tapas catering in Fairlands
Which station should guests use for Fairlands?
Guildford station, about 2.4 miles south-east of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Alban's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Fairlands hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- We cover Fairlands and the whole of Surrey
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
- 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