Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Forestdale, Greater London
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Forestdale and the surrounding area.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Engagement parties
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering near Forestdale
How our tapas catering works in Forestdale
We’ll suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. We’re often asked to cater engagement drinks and receptions and drinks parties, serving tortilla española, padrón peppers and Serrano ham.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Forestdale. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Forestdale (CR0, CR2)
- County
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How long we’re needed on site
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Distance and access to the venue
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and time of the event
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Drinks receptions around Forestdale
Forestdale is about 3 miles south-east of Croydon, in Greater London. Tell us where your event in Forestdale will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cook in 764 places in Greater London. Our nearest city page is London, about 11 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Francis. Guests travelling by rail: Sanderstead station is about 2.4 miles away.
For tapas catering in CR0 and CR2, we plan around your venue and your guests. Streets in the area include Courtwood Lane, Goldfinch Road and Bardolph Avenue, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Close by, we cover events in Selsdon (1 mile west), New Addington (1 mile east), Addington (1 mile north), Farleigh (1 mile south) and Fickleshole (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (13 miles north-west), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (13 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Warlingham Park Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (3.5 miles west). The countryside around Forestdale includes Nore Hill and Hutchinson's Bank.
- Local schools include John Ruskin College (0.5 miles north-west)
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Space, weather and the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Room for a tapas table
- Space to finish hot dishes
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
As a London location, Forestdale is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
FAQs for Forestdale
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Francis?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What about parking in Forestdale?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will plan unloading around it.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How much does tapas catering cost in Forestdale?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Are the tapas fresh?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue so they’re served at their best.
How much tapas do we need?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more and we will advise.
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Label seafood clearly
- Add sangria or cava
- Canapés need staff to serve
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Bar staff and sangria.
Who books tapas catering in Forestdale?
They work for any size of event.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Forestdale book us for occasions like:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Office parties and launches
- Receptions and drinks parties
Historic houses near Forestdale include Addington Palace (0.9 miles north) and Down House (4 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
What to look for in a quote
- Who provides the crockery
- When payment is due
- What happens if it rains
- How late numbers can change
Nearby places to Forestdale
More for events in Forestdale
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. Evening receptions in Forestdale stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Is live paella right for your event?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Forestdale hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Catering across Greater London, including Forestdale
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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