Surrey · England
Tapas Catering in Friday Street
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Friday Street.
- Anniversary parties
- Office parties and launches
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering for Friday Street events
How we price tapas catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- Your choice of paellas
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
- Expected numbers
- The courses you’d like
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
About our tapas catering in Friday Street
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. For welcome-drink canapés and drinks parties and receptions, we’ll put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo for your guests.
Near Friday Street, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Common questions in Friday Street
What’s the nearest station to Friday Street for guests?
The closest is Gomshall station, roughly 2.9 miles away.
Can you cook at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Are the tapas served hot?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Table tapas are set down to share.
Bar staff and sangria.
The process
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. A summer drinks reception in Friday Street has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Why choose tapas catering in Friday Street?
Big or small, tapas work.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Friday Street, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Cocktail parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
Historic houses near Friday Street include Polesden Lacey (4.2 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Questions to ask before booking
- VAT, if it applies
- When payment is due
- When final numbers are due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Working with your venue
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Friday Street? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Drinks receptions around Friday Street
Friday Street is about 3 miles south-west of Dorking, in Surrey. Anywhere in RH5, we can bring the pans to you. We cook in 395 places across Surrey. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 9 miles away.
A picnic in Wotton and Abinger Commons? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. If you are looking at a historic venue around Friday Street, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Friday Street is within about 2 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cover events in every part of the RH5 postcode area. Whether your event is on Sheephouse Lane, Noons Corner Road and Abinger Common Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Friday Street, we also cover Abinger Bottom (1 mile south), Abinger Common (1 mile west), Coldharbour (2 miles south-east), Forest Green (3 miles south) and South Holmwood (3 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (9 miles north-west), Woking (12 miles north-west), Epsom (11 miles north-east), Horley (9 miles east), Redhill (10 miles east) and Ewell (12 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Abinger Castle (1 mile west) and Mesolithic Museum (1 mile west). Open spaces near Friday Street include Vann Lake and Combe Bottom.
- Nearby schools include Hurtwood House (2.4 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Stephan Langton Inn (within half a mile north-west)
Places near Friday Street
Other catering in Friday Street
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Room for a tapas table
- Parking near the venue
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Friday Street
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- 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