Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Locksbottom events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Locksbottom: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Work receptions
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas and paella menus
Tapas catering in Locksbottom
Locksbottom: your questions answered
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is parking a problem for events in Locksbottom?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will work around it.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How many paellas should we have?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Tapas catering in Locksbottom, cooked live
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. We are frequently asked to cater welcome-drink canapés and engagement drinks, with tortilla española, croquetas and padrón peppers.
In Locksbottom, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, indoors or out. Let us know about parking and loading. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Location
- Locksbottom (BR6, BR2, BR5)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Events we cater in Locksbottom
Tapas get people talking.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Locksbottom and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Engagement drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Cocktail parties
Historic houses near Locksbottom include Down House (2.7 miles south) and Bromley Palace (2.8 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
What your quote should include
- Whether travel is included
- Payment terms and deposit
- The deadline for final numbers
- Allergen information for each dish
For event organisers in Locksbottom
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- The number of people
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Which courses you have in mind
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Your date and when you want to eat
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
The process
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch while it cooks. At midsummer, it is light in Locksbottom until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Tapas for events in Locksbottom
Locksbottom is about 2 miles south-west of Orpington, in Greater London. Across the BR6 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Locksbottom is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook. You can also see our page for London, about 11 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Locksbottom, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as St Paul, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Locksbottom is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cater events across the BR6, BR2 and BR5 postcode area and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Mada Road, Winton Road and Park Avenue or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Crofton (1 mile east), Farnborough (1 mile south-east), Petts Wood (1 mile north-east), Bromley Common (1 mile north-west) and Keston (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in London (11 miles north-west), City of Westminster (14 miles north-west), Marylebone (14 miles north-west), Kensington (14 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (12 miles north-west).
A little further out are The Mall (2.9 miles north-west) and Princess Royal University Hospital (0.5 miles south-west). The countryside around Locksbottom includes Summer Hill and Downe Bank Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Darrick Wood School (less than half a mile south-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Municipal Borough of Bromley (2.8 miles north-west)
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, often with ham or mushroom.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Book staff to carry canapés round
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Towns and villages near Locksbottom
Other catering in Locksbottom
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space on each table
- An area to prepare hot tapas
As a London location, Locksbottom is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- 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