Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Highbury events
Planning tapas catering in Highbury? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Office parties and launches
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
Book tapas catering in Highbury
Receptions and parties in Highbury
Highbury is about 4 miles north-east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. Anywhere in N1, we can cook for your guests. We cover 764 places across Greater London.
For guests coming by train, Canonbury station is in Highbury itself. Historic houses near Highbury include Sutton House (2 miles east) and Dr Johnson's House (2.6 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Tapas catering in N1, N16 and N5 is planned around your venue and your guests. Local streets include Prah Road, Dove Road and Lough Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the A1199, Highbury is easy for us to reach. For events just outside Highbury, we cover Newington Green (1 mile east), Mildmay (1 mile east), Canonbury (1 mile south-east), De Beauvoir Town (1 mile south-east) and Stoke Newington (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (4 miles south), City of Westminster (4 miles south-west), Marylebone (3 miles south-west), Kensington (6 miles south-west), Walthamstow (4 miles north-east) and Whitechapel (3 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include King's College Hospital Charity (1.1 miles south-west) and Montfichet's Tower (2.7 miles south). Open spaces near Highbury include Gillespie Park and Dartmouth Park Hill.
- Schools near Highbury include City of London Academy Highbury Grove (less than half a mile south) and Musical Theatre Academy (0.5 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Snooty Fox pub (under half a mile south-east)
- Other local spots include Stoke Newington (0.6 miles east)
How our tapas catering works in Highbury
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Popular choices include Serrano ham, croquetas and gambas al ajillo, and typical bookings are for sharing tapas starters and drinks reception canapés.
In Highbury, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, in a home, a venue or an office. Tell us about access and parking. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- Highbury (N1, N16, N5)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- The courses you’d like
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Highbury, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Working with your venue
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Space on each table
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space for a serving table or station
Highbury is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
Perfect for your event in Highbury
Tapas are sociable food, because everyone shares.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
- Engagement drinks
- Drinks reception canapés
After a ceremony at a church such as Christ Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- A clear list of what’s included
- If the price includes VAT
- The deadline for final numbers
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
The process
Here’s how the day usually runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Sunset in Highbury is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Also near Highbury
More for events in Highbury
Highbury: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Highbury?
Highbury has its own station: Canonbury station.
We are having a ceremony at Christ Church: can you cater afterwards?
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.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Highbury.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you cater in Highbury?
Yes, we do. Highbury is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Is live paella right for your event?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why choose Love Paella in Highbury
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
- 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