Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Leigh, Surrey
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Leigh and Surrey, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering for Leigh events
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
About our tapas catering in Leigh
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. Typical bookings include birthday drinks and engagement parties, serving padrón peppers, Serrano ham and patatas bravas.
Near Leigh, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
Events we cater in Leigh
Big or small, tapas work.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Betchworth station, about 2.9 miles north.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether travel is included
- How each diet is kept separate
- How late numbers can change
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What affects the price in Leigh
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The paellas you choose
- Parking and unloading
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Expected numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
- The venue or postcode
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning a tapas spread in Leigh
Leigh is about 3 miles south-west of Reigate, in Surrey. For an event in Leigh, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Leigh. Leigh is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 14 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Leigh, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Bartholomew. Leigh is within about 5 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
This part of Surrey takes in RH2, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Church Road, Smalls Hill Road and The Glebe, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Leigh, we also cover Dawesgreen (1 mile north-west), Bunce Common (1 mile west), Irons Bottom (2 miles east), Strood Green (2 miles north-west) and Sidlow (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (14 miles west), Epsom (9 miles north), Horley (4 miles south-east), Redhill (4 miles north-east), Ewell (10 miles north) and Reigate (3 miles north-east).
A little further out are Reigate Priory Museum (2.7 miles north-east) and East Surrey Hospital (3.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Reigate Heath and Colley Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Seven Stars Public House (within half a mile north-west)
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, often with alioli.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Other catering in Leigh
Questions from Leigh
Which station should guests use for Leigh?
The closest is Betchworth station, roughly 2.9 miles away.
Is Leigh too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
For event organisers in Leigh
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Label seafood clearly
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Bar staff and sangria.
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Evening receptions in Leigh 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 pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
- 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