Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Holmbury St Mary, Surrey
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Holmbury St Mary and across Surrey.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement celebrations
- Welcome-drink canapés
Planning an event in Holmbury St Mary?
Tapas catering in Holmbury St Mary, made fresh on the day
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include tapas and paella menus and table tapas as a starter, serving croquetas, Manchego with membrillo and patatas bravas.
For a country party near Holmbury St Mary, tapas and sangria set the mood. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- What the venue already provides
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Ask for labels on each dish
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Crockery and serving dishes.
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
Planning a tapas spread in Holmbury St Mary
Holmbury St Mary is about 5 miles south-west of Dorking, in Surrey. Give us the address of your event in Holmbury St Mary, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Holmbury St Mary is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 8 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Gomshall station, about 2.1 miles north-west. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Holmbury St Mary, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Holmbury St Mary, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Tapas catering in RH5 is planned around your venue and your guests. Local streets include Horsham Road and Felday Glade; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Close by, we cover events in Pitland Street (1 mile south), Peaslake (1 mile west), Farley Green (3 miles west), Ewhurst (3 miles south) and Ewhurst Green (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (8 miles north-west), Woking (11 miles north-west), Epsom (12 miles north-east), Horley (11 miles east), Redhill (11 miles east) and Ewell (13 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Mesolithic Museum (0.7 miles north-east) and Abinger Castle (0.7 miles north-east). The countryside around Holmbury St Mary includes Leith Hill and Silent Pool.
- Schools near Holmbury St Mary include Peaslake Free School (1.1 miles west) and Hurtwood House (1.4 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Volunteer pub (0.6 miles north)
Perfect for your event in Holmbury St Mary
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Engagement celebrations
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Sharing tapas starters
Nearby historic houses include Polesden Lacey (4.8 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Questions to ask before booking
- The venue requirements
- Whether VAT is included
- How bad weather is handled
- Allergen information for each dish
Common questions in Holmbury St Mary
What’s the nearest station to Holmbury St Mary for guests?
Gomshall station, about 2.1 miles north-west of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Holmbury St Mary?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Surrey included. Find your area.
How the day works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evening receptions in Holmbury St Mary stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Places near Holmbury St Mary
What else we do in Holmbury St Mary
Paella compared with other options
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Catering across Surrey, including Holmbury St Mary
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
- 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