Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hackney Central, Greater London
Planning tapas catering in Hackney Central? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Work receptions
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering for Hackney Central events
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room for a tapas table
As a London location, Hackney Central is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
Tapas catering in Hackney Central, cooked live
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. We cook albóndigas, gambas al ajillo and padrón peppers, and we’re frequently booked for tapas before paella and tapas starters.
In Hackney Central, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, in a home, a venue or an office. Let us know about parking and loading. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Area
- Hackney Central (E8, E9, E2)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Also near Hackney Central
Other catering in Hackney Central
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Hackney Central: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Haggerston Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Michael and All Angels?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Catering across Greater London, including Hackney Central
- No hidden extras in your quote
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
The process
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. A summer drinks reception in Hackney Central has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Planning tapas catering in Hackney Central? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Read more
For event organisers in Hackney Central
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Events we cater in Hackney Central
Tapas are sociable food.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Engagement parties
- Office parties and launches
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas starters
For guests coming by train, London Fields station is in Hackney Central itself.
Questions to ask before booking
- How each diet is kept separate
- Space, access and power needs
- When final numbers are due
- The deposit and payment dates
Tapas for events in Hackney Central
Hackney Central is about 1 mile north-east of Hoxton, in Greater London. Whether your event is in the middle of Hackney Central or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 764 places across Greater London.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Michael and All Angels, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic buildings near Hackney Central often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Anywhere in E8, E9 and E2, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Brett Road, Tudor Road and Forest Road or the roads around them. Hackney Central is on the A107 and A1207, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Nearby, we also cater events in London Fields (1 mile south), Dalston (1 mile west), Hackney (1 mile east), Cambridge Heath (1 mile south) and Kingsland (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in London (3 miles south-west), City of Westminster (4 miles south-west), Marylebone (4 miles south-west), Kensington (7 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles south-west) and Walthamstow (3 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Tower of London (2.5 miles south) and Hackney Walk (0.5 miles north-east). Open spaces near Hackney Central include Old Ford Island and Tower Hill.
- Nearby schools include The Urswick School - A Church of England Secondary School (within half a mile east) and The Urswick School (under half a mile east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Baxter's Court pub (under half a mile north-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Hackney (under half a mile north-east) and Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives (1.9 miles south-west)
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Tapas go out to the tables.
Bar staff and sangria.
- 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