Reading · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Horncastle, Reading
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Horncastle and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Work receptions
- Evening grazing
Tapas catering near Horncastle
Tapas catering for your event in Horncastle
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. Popular choices include Serrano ham, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo, and typical bookings are for evening sharing boards and table tapas as a starter.
For a party in a place like Horncastle, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Horncastle: venues and local tips
Horncastle is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. For an event in Horncastle, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. Horncastle is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading we cover.
Historic buildings near Horncastle often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Nearby historic houses include Mapledurham House (2.8 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Anywhere in RG30 and RG31, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Low Lane, Usk Road and Mill Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Close by, we cover events in Fords Farm (1 mile south), Southcote (1 mile east), Tilehurst Within (1 mile north), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile south-west) and Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south). Further out, we also cater in Caversham (3 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (5 miles north). Horncastle is one of the larger places we cover in Reading, with lots of choice for events.
Other landmarks nearby include Battle Hospital (1.5 miles north-east) and Broad Street Mall (2.2 miles east). Not far away are Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Schools near Horncastle include Prospect School (within half a mile north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Happy Prospect pub (0.7 miles east)
What tapas catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many guests are eating
- Travel, parking and access
- How many staff you need
- Timings and hours
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Planning tapas catering in Horncastle? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Include staff for canapés
- Add sangria or cava
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Staff to serve canapés.
Horncastle questions
Could we have live paella in Calcot Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is Horncastle close to London?
About 40 miles from central London.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you cover Horncastle?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Horncastle is within our area. To check your date, use our quote form.
Is halal food available?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Also near Horncastle
Other catering in Horncastle
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. A summer drinks reception in Horncastle has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, 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.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or RG30 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Paella compared with other options
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Horncastle
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Where we can cook in Horncastle
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Venue approval for outside catering
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Horncastle
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- 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