Buckinghamshire · England
Tapas Catering in Hartwell
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hartwell and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering in Hartwell
Tapas catering in Hartwell, made fresh on the day
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Whether it is office parties and launches and evening sharing boards, we’ll put together a menu of patatas bravas, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo for your guests.
Near Hartwell, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Hartwell (HP17)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Hartwell: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at St Mary's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
What do you need at the venue?
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.
Planners, venues and businesses
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
The process
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s served at its best. Sunset in Hartwell is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- 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 clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Let us know the timings for the day
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Receptions and parties in Hartwell
Hartwell is about 1 mile west of Southcourt, in Buckinghamshire. Across the HP17 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cater in all 263 towns and villages in Buckinghamshire. You can also see our page for Milton Keynes, about 16 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Waddesdon Manor (4.5 miles north-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. If you are looking at a historic venue around Hartwell, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Hartwell, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the HP17 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Oxford Road, Sedrup Lane and Portway Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Hartwell, we also cover Stone (1 mile west), Fairford Leys (1 mile north-east), Southcourt (1 mile east), Haydon Hill (1 mile north) and California (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in High Wycombe (13 miles south), Chesham (12 miles south-east), Buckingham (14 miles north-west), Amersham (14 miles south-east), Princes Risborough (6 miles south) and Haddenham (4 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Dinton Castle (1.8 miles west) and Roald Dahl Children's Gallery (1.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Snakemoor and Beacon Hill.
- Nearby schools include Pebble Brook School (1.2 miles north-east) and Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School (1.3 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Rose & Crown pub (within half a mile west)
Why choose live paella in Hartwell?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why choose Love Paella in Hartwell
- We cover Hartwell and the whole of Buckinghamshire
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Collect dietary needs
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Afterwards, we clear away.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Who books tapas catering in Hartwell?
Big or small, tapas work.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Evening sharing boards
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks reception canapés
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Aylesbury station, about 1.7 miles east.
Before booking anyone
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Space, access and power needs
- When payment is due
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The paellas you choose
- Timings and hours
- Parking and unloading
- Waiting and bar staff
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Where the event is
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Towns and villages near Hartwell
Also in Hartwell
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
- 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