Buckinghamshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hillesden, Buckinghamshire
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Hillesden. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas and paella menus
Book tapas catering in Hillesden
Tapas catering in Hillesden, cooked live
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they’re great on their own. Whether it’s tapas before paella and launches and office parties, we’ll put together a menu of albóndigas, tortilla española and croquetas.
In a rural spot like Hillesden, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Hillesden (MK18)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
For event organisers in Hillesden
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Also near Hillesden
More for events in Hillesden
Why choose live paella in Hillesden?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Hillesden hosts choose us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Permission from the venue
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space for a serving table or station
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Hillesden
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
Drinks receptions around Hillesden
Hillesden is about 3 miles south of Buckingham, in Buckinghamshire. Tell us where your event in Hillesden will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cook in all 263 towns and villages across Buckinghamshire. Our events stretch from Hillesden to Milton Keynes (12 miles away).
Historic buildings near Hillesden often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Nearby historic houses include Claydon House (3 miles south-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Tapas catering in MK18 is planned around your venue. If your venue is just outside Hillesden, we also cover Preston Bissett (2 miles north-west), Gawcott (2 miles north), Twyford (2 miles south-west), Calvert (3 miles south) and Charndon (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Aylesbury (12 miles south-east), Buckingham (3 miles north), Elmhurst (12 miles south-east), Southcourt (13 miles south-east), Haydon Hill (11 miles south-east) and Turnfurlong (13 miles south-east).
A little further out are Buckingham Movie Museum (3.3 miles north) and Buckingham Castle (3.1 miles north). Open spaces near Hillesden include Calvert Jubilee.
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Hillesden stay light until about 9:00pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Label seafood clearly
- Add sangria or cava
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Occasions we cook for in Hillesden
Big or small, tapas work.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Anniversary parties
- Office parties and launches
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas and paella menus
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Questions to ask before booking
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
- Who provides the crockery
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
FAQs for Hillesden
How far is Hillesden from London?
About 50 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of All Saints?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cover Hillesden?
We do. We cook at events in Hillesden and across Buckinghamshire. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
- 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