Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Lissenden Gardens events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Lissenden Gardens: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Anniversary parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering for Lissenden Gardens events
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Collect dietary needs
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Add a live paella main.
About our tapas catering in Lissenden Gardens
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they’re great on their own. We cook padrón peppers, croquetas and tortilla española, and we’re frequently booked for birthday drinks and receptions and drinks parties.
In Lissenden Gardens, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, in a home, a venue or an office. Let us know about parking and loading. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Area
- Lissenden Gardens (NW5, NW3, N19)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Occasions we cook for in Lissenden Gardens
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Evening sharing boards
- Work receptions
Nearby historic houses include Keats House (0.8 miles west) and 2 Willow Road (0.8 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
What to look for in a quote
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evening receptions in Lissenden Gardens stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Live paella or other catering?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Lissenden Gardens hosts choose us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Catering across Greater London, including Lissenden Gardens
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Drinks service on request
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Questions from Lissenden Gardens
Could we have live paella in Parliament Hill?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
What about parking in Lissenden Gardens?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll plan unloading around it.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Do you provide serving staff?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
As a London location, Lissenden Gardens is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
Planning a tapas spread in Lissenden Gardens
Lissenden Gardens is about 1 mile east of Hampstead, in Greater London. For an event in Lissenden Gardens, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Lissenden Gardens is one of 764 places in Greater London we cover.
After a ceremony at a church such as Highgate Road Chapel, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic buildings near Lissenden Gardens frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
For tapas catering in NW5, NW3 and N19, we plan around your venue. From Rona Road, Dale Road and Fleet Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Gospel Oak (1 mile south), Dartmouth Park (1 mile north-east), Tufnell Park (1 mile east), Kentish Town (1 mile south) and Chalk Farm (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include London (5 miles south-east), City of Westminster (3 miles south), Marylebone (3 miles south), Kensington (5 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles south-east) and Shoreditch (4 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find O2 Centre (1.5 miles south-west) and Isokon Gallery (0.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Lissenden Gardens includes Parliament Hill and The Long Water.
- Local schools include Gospel Oak Primary School (less than half a mile south-west) and The Royal School (1.1 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Bull and Last pub (under half a mile north-east)
- Local facilities include Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead (0.8 miles south-west) and Cecil Sharp House (1.3 miles south)
Nearby places to Lissenden Gardens
More for events in Lissenden Gardens
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Lissenden Gardens? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
- 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