Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hale, Surrey
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hale: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Evening grazing
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Tapas catering in Hale
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
About our tapas catering in Hale
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. For office parties and launches and cocktail parties, we can cook Serrano ham, gambas al ajillo and tortilla española for your guests.
Near Hale, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Receptions and parties in Hale
Hale is about 1 mile north of Farnham, in Surrey. Wherever your event is in the GU9 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Hale is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 9 miles away.
Historic buildings near Hale often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Farnham station, about 1.3 miles south.
For tapas catering in GU9, we plan around your venue. Local streets include Fairview Gardens, Farnborough Road and White Cottage Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Hale for tapas catering include Heath End (1 mile north), Weybourne (1 mile north-east), Upper Hale (1 mile north-west), Badshot Lea (1 mile east) and Farnham (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (9 miles east), Woking (11 miles north-east), Camberley (8 miles north), Frimley (6 miles north), Haslemere (10 miles south) and Cranleigh (15 miles south-east).
A little further out are Museum of Farnham (1.4 miles south-west) and Fleet Community Hospital (4.8 miles north-west). Open spaces near Hale include Farnham Park and Aunt's Pool.
- Schools near Hale include William Cobbett Primary School (less than half a mile north-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Six Bells pub (0.5 miles south)
- Local facilities include Prince Consort's Library (1.8 miles north) and Seale and Tongham (2.7 miles east)
Step by step
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. A summer drinks reception in Hale has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hale, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Places near Hale
Other catering in Hale
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
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:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Room for a tapas table
- Access to unload near the serving area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Hale
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Perfect for your event in Hale
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Table tapas as a starter
Nearby historic houses include Farnham Castle (1.1 miles south-west). 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
- A clear list of what’s included
- The deadline for final numbers
- Payment terms and deposit
- How bad weather is handled
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
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.
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Collect dietary needs
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Bar staff and sangria.
Questions from Hale
Do you come out to small places like Hale?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which station should guests use for Hale?
Farnham station, about 1.3 miles south of the centre.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you cover Hale?
Yes, we do. Hale is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
- 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