Surrey · England
Tapas Catering for Lightwater events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Lightwater: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas before paella
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering near Lightwater
Why choose tapas catering in Lightwater?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Lightwater:
- Evening grazing
- Office parties and launches
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Anniversary parties
Parks such as Brentmoor Heath have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
What to look for in a quote
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Space, access and power needs
- How bad weather is handled
- Payment terms and deposit
About our tapas catering in Lightwater
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. We’re often asked to cater table tapas as a starter and engagement celebrations, with patatas bravas, Serrano ham and albóndigas.
Around Lightwater, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell normally draws people over. Sunset in Lightwater is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Get a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Common questions in Lightwater
Which station should guests use for Lightwater?
The closest is Bagshot station, roughly 1.3 miles away.
How far is Lightwater from London?
Roughly 27 miles from the centre of London.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Are the tapas fresh?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes, tapas work on their own.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The number of people
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A spot for our serving station
- Venue approval for outside catering
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
Drinks receptions around Lightwater
Lightwater is about 3 miles east of Camberley, in Surrey. Events in Lightwater are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover 395 places in Surrey. Our events stretch from Lightwater to Guildford (8 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Bagshot station is about 1.3 miles away. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like All Saints.
Tapas catering in GU18 and GU19 is planned around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include Ambleside Road, Ridgeway Close and Shrublands Drive, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Close by, we cover events in Donkey Town (1 mile south-east), Bagshot (1 mile north-west), Windlesham (1 mile north-east), Lucas Green (2 miles south-east) and West End (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (8 miles south-east), Woking (5 miles south-east), Camberley (3 miles west), Farnham (11 miles south-west), Egham (8 miles north-east) and Walton-on-Thames (12 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Brookwood Hospital (3.3 miles south-east) and The Museum of The National Rifle Association (2.7 miles south). Not far away are Brookwood Lye.
- Nearby schools include Gordon's School (1.2 miles east)
For planners, venues and organisers
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Is live paella right for your event?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Lightwater
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Also near Lightwater
What else we do in Lightwater
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
- 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