Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hersham, Surrey
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hersham: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Engagement drinks
- Work receptions
- Tapas with a paella main course
Live tapas catering in Hersham
Your questions about tapas catering in Hersham
Could we have live paella in West End Common?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Peter: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll help you decide the split.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Tapas catering in Hersham, made fresh on the day
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Popular choices include croquetas, padrón peppers and tortilla española, and typical bookings are for welcome-drink canapés and birthday drinks.
Tapas make a party in Hersham easy and sociable. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Tapas for events in Hersham
Hersham is about 1 mile south of Walton-on-Thames, in Surrey. For an event in Hersham, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Hersham is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 11 miles away.
A picnic in West End Common? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. Guests travelling by rail: Walton-On-Thames station is about 0.6 miles away.
Wherever your event is in KT12, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on Police Station Road, Queensway South and Queensway. Main roads around Hersham include the A244, which makes travel to your event easy. For events just outside Hersham, we cover Burwood Park (1 mile south-west), Walton-on-Thames (1 mile north), Whiteley Village (2 miles south-west), St George's Hill (2 miles west) and Weybridge (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (11 miles south-west), Woking (8 miles south-west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Redhill (14 miles south-east) and Ewell (6 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital (1.6 miles north-west) and Chessington Castle Hill (4.8 miles east). The countryside around Hersham includes Claremont Lake and Jubilee Wood.
- Nearby schools include Three Rivers Academy (under half a mile north)
- Pubs nearby include The Barley Mow Public House (within half a mile east)
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How long we are needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Guest numbers
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room for a tapas table
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Hersham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
Nearby places to Hersham
More for events in Hersham
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Who books tapas catering in Hersham?
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas before paella
- Drinks parties and receptions
If you are looking at a historic venue around Hersham, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Questions to ask before booking
- Who provides the crockery
- The deadline for final numbers
- How bad weather is handled
- How each diet is kept separate
The process
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. At midsummer, it is light in Hersham until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- 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.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote.
Planning help
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Table tapas are set down to share.
Crockery and serving dishes.
- 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