Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Guildford, Surrey
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Guildford.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Planning an event in Guildford?
About our tapas catering in Guildford
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. Whether it’s tapas and paella menus and tapas starters, we can cook Manchego with membrillo, albóndigas and padrón peppers and more.
Canapés keep a reception in Guildford moving. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
Guildford: venues and local tips
Guildford is about 27 miles south-west of London, in Surrey. Events in Guildford are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Guildford is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is London Road (Guildford) station, about 0.6 miles south-east. Nearby historic houses include Guildford Castle (0.9 miles south) and Loseley Park (2.6 miles south-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Guildford is within about 6 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cover events in every part of GU1, GU2, GU4 and GU3 and the streets around it. Local streets include Church Road, Market Street and High Street; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the A3 and A25, Guildford is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. Other places close to Guildford for tapas catering include Bellfields (1 mile north), Abbotswood (1 mile south-east), Stoughton (1 mile north-west), Westborough (1 mile west) and Burpham (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cater in Woking (5 miles north), Camberley (9 miles north-west), Epsom (15 miles north-east), Farnham (10 miles west), Egham (13 miles north) and Walton-on-Thames (12 miles north-east). Guildford is one of the larger places we cover in Surrey, with plenty of venues for events.
Nearby you’ll also find Guildford Castle (0.9 miles south) and Guildford House (0.8 miles south). The countryside around Guildford includes Silent Pool and Pewley Hill.
- Nearby schools include Surrey Maths School (0.5 miles south-west) and Guildford High School (0.6 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The King's Head pub (under half a mile south-east)
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Guildford? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What you get with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Unloading access
- Space on each table
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Guildford
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Timings and hours
- Travel, parking and access
- Waiting and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
How the day works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. A summer drinks reception in Guildford has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Guildford: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Stoke Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Which station should guests use for Guildford?
The closest is London Road (Guildford) station, roughly 0.6 miles away.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Can you cook indoors?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Do you cover Guildford?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Guildford and across Surrey. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Nearby places to Guildford
What else we do in Guildford
Why choose tapas catering in Guildford?
They work for any size of event.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Work receptions
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Sharing tapas starters
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Guildford, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- VAT, if it applies
- The wet-weather plan
- Travel and parking 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