Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Hooley events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hooley: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Engagement drinks
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing tapas starters
Book tapas catering in Hooley
Hooley: venues and local tips
Hooley is about 2 miles south-west of Coulsdon, in Greater London. Give us the address of your event in Hooley, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. Hooley is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London we cover. Our events stretch from Hooley to London (15 miles away).
A picnic in Shabden Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Historic buildings near Hooley often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Hooley, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cover events in every part of CR5 and RH1 and the streets around it. Local streets include Church Lane Avenue, Church Lane Drive and Brighton Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Hooley, we also cover Netherne on-the-Hill (1 mile east), Merstham (2 miles south), Mugswell (2 miles south-west), Gatton (2 miles south) and South Merstham (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover London (15 miles north), City of Westminster (15 miles north), Kensington (15 miles north), Brompton (14 miles north), Stockwell (12 miles north) and Orpington (13 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include East Surrey Museum (3.4 miles east) and St Lawrence's Hospital (2.5 miles east). Open spaces near Hooley include Colley Hill and South London Downs National Nature Reserve.
- Nearby, you will find The White Hart pub (0.7 miles north-west)
Tapas catering in Hooley, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Whether it’s tapas starters and evening sharing boards, we’ll put together a menu of patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo.
For a London drinks party in Hooley, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Where
- Hooley (CR5, RH1)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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 is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Paella compared with other options
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Occasions we cook for in Hooley
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Margaret.
What your quote should include
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Payment terms and deposit
- How long the team stays
- When final numbers are due
Organising for someone else?
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Step by step
Here’s how the day usually runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you’re ready to eat. At midsummer, it is light in Hooley until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Give us a contact for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Hooley? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Unloading access
- Permission from the venue
Hooley 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 will advise before booking.
On the menu in Hooley
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and typically vegetarian.
Towns and villages near Hooley
More for events in Hooley
Hooley: your questions answered
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Margaret: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Could we have live paella in Shabden Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
What tapas catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- How many courses
- Distance and access to the venue
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Waiting and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Expected numbers
- The courses you’d like
- The venue or postcode
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
- 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