Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Hadley Wood events
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 Hadley Wood.
- Engagement drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Office parties and launches
Tapas catering for Hadley Wood events
Planning the cooking area
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space for a serving table or station
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
Hadley Wood is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
Tapas catering for your event in Hadley Wood
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. On the menu are gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and Serrano ham, and we are often booked for sharing tapas starters and evening grazing.
For a London drinks party in Hadley Wood, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
- Location
- Hadley Wood (EN4, EN5)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. At midsummer, it is light in Hadley Wood until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Read more
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The paellas you choose
- How many courses
- The length of service
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- The courses you’d like
- The venue or postcode
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hadley Wood, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Hadley Wood: venues and local tips
Hadley Wood is about 1 mile north-east of Barnet, in Greater London. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Hadley Wood and nearby villages. Hadley Wood is one of 764 places in Greater London where we cook. You can also see our page for London, about 12 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Paul's Church. Historic buildings near Hadley Wood often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Wherever your event is in EN4 and EN5, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Hertford Road, Bartrams Lane and Parkgate Avenue, and we can cook for an event on any of them. We also cook at events in Cockfosters (1 mile south-east), Monken Hadley (1 mile west), New Barnet (1 mile south), Barnet (1 mile south-west) and Underhill (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in London (12 miles south), City of Westminster (10 miles south), Marylebone (10 miles south), Kensington (11 miles south), St Pancras (10 miles south) and Shoreditch (10 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Barnet General Hospital (2 miles south-west) and Potters Bar Museum (2.5 miles north). The countryside around Hadley Wood includes Covert Way and Darland's Lake.
- Nearby schools include JCoSS (0.5 miles south-east) and Trent School Cockfosters (1.1 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Hadley Hotel (0.6 miles south-west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include East Barnet Urban District (1.4 miles south)
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Common questions in Hadley Wood
Can you cook in Tudor Sports Ground?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Paul's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you provide serving staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Nearby places to Hadley Wood
What else we do in Hadley Wood
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why book with us
- Drinks service on request
- A quote that spells everything out
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Check diets in advance
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Add sangria or cava
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Staff to serve canapés.
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
- 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