Greater London · England
Tapas Catering in Little Ilford
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Little Ilford: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Evening grazing
- Tapas and paella menus
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering near Little Ilford
Tapas catering for your event in Little Ilford
We will recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. For birthday drinks and welcome-drink canapés, we will put together a menu of tortilla española, albóndigas and croquetas and more.
For a London drinks party in Little Ilford, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Location
- Little Ilford (E12, IG1, E7)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Working with your venue
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Places near Little Ilford
Also in Little Ilford
What happens on the day
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evening receptions in Little Ilford 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.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Little Ilford? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, use our quote form.
Planning help
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Little Ilford: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at St Michael's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Little Ilford for guests?
Manor Park station, in Little Ilford itself.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll help you decide the split.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ask for labels on each dish
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Bar staff and sangria.
Receptions and parties in Little Ilford
Little Ilford is about 2 miles north-west of Barking, in Greater London. From the centre of Little Ilford to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Little Ilford is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London we cover. Our events stretch from Little Ilford to London (about 7 miles away).
A picnic in Loxford Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. After a ceremony at a church such as St Michael's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
We cater events across E12, IG1 and E7. Your event could be at a home on Essex Road, Durham Road and Albany Road. Close by, we cover events in Manor Park (1 mile south-east), Plashet (1 mile south-west), Cranbrook (1 mile north), Ilford (1 mile north-east) and Loxford (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (7 miles south-west), City of Westminster (9 miles west), Marylebone (9 miles west), Kensington (12 miles west), St Pancras (8 miles west) and Shoreditch (6 miles west).
A little further out are Barking Community Hospital (2.1 miles south-east) and Redbridge Museum (1 mile north-east). Not far away are Ripple Nature Reserve and Hollow Pond.
- Schools near Little Ilford include Little Ilford School (under half a mile south-east) and Tyndale Academy (0.9 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find Earl of Essex pub (less than half a mile west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include East Ham (1.3 miles south)
Why choose live paella in Little Ilford?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Little Ilford hosts choose us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space on each table
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Unloading access
Little Ilford is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
What tapas catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Travel, parking and access
- How long we are needed on site
- Whether you need crockery
- Waiting and bar staff
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
- 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