Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Farnham, Surrey
Looking for tapas catering in Farnham? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Engagement celebrations
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Farnham
Tapas catering in Farnham, cooked live
We will suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. We cook tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and padrón peppers, and we are regularly asked to cater birthday drinks and receptions and drinks parties.
In a town like Farnham, tapas suit garden parties, hall parties and receptions. We need a small area to finish hot tapas. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Paella compared with other options
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why choose Love Paella in Farnham
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- A clear, itemised quote
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Places near Farnham
What else we do in Farnham
The process
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Farnham has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, 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.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Farnham: your questions answered
Can you cook in Moor Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cook at venues 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.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
What about pudding?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Do you cover Farnham?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Farnham is within our area. To check your date, use our quote form.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A spot for our serving station
- Parking near the venue
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The paellas you choose
- Waiting and bar staff
- Guest numbers
- The length of service
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Where the event is
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and rough timings
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning a tapas spread in Farnham
Farnham is about 6 miles south of Farnborough, in Surrey. For an event in Farnham, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Farnham. Farnham is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. Our events stretch from Farnham to Guildford (10 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Farnham Castle (0.6 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Parks such as Moor Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Farnham is within about 8 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the GU9 and GU10 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Barncroft, Approach Road and Saxon Croft; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the A31 and A287, Farnham is easy for us to reach for your event. We also cook at events in Compton (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north), Upper Hale (2 miles north), Runfold (2 miles east) and Heath End (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (10 miles east), Woking (12 miles north-east), Camberley (9 miles north), Frimley (8 miles north), Haslemere (9 miles south) and Cranleigh (14 miles east). Farnham is one of the larger places we cover in Surrey, with plenty of venues for events.
Other landmarks nearby include Museum of Farnham (less than half a mile north-west) and Farnham Castle (0.6 miles north-west). Not far away are Farnham Park and Aunt's Pool.
- Local schools include St Polycarp's Catholic Primary School (within half a mile east) and Weydon School (1 mile south-west)
- Pubs nearby include William Cobbett Public House (within half a mile north-west)
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Working with your venue
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Events we cater in Farnham
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Farnham, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Cocktail parties
After a ceremony at a church such as St Joan of Arc's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- Whether travel is included
- How late numbers can change
- Who provides the crockery
- 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