Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Longlands events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Longlands and the surrounding area.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Work receptions
Planning an event in Longlands?
Events we cater in Longlands
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
- Welcome-drink canapés
Parks such as Waring Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
What your quote should include
- Who provides the crockery
- What happens if it rains
- The deposit and payment dates
- The deadline for final numbers
Tapas catering in Longlands, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. For birthday and anniversary parties and launches and office parties, we’ll put together a menu of patatas bravas, Serrano ham and padrón peppers for your guests.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Longlands. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- Longlands (DA15, DA14, SE9)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning a tapas spread in Longlands
Longlands is about 1 mile west of Sidcup, in Greater London. Whether your event is in the middle of Longlands or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in all 764 towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Longlands to London (about 9 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Longlands, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as Christ Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Longlands, ideal for an outdoor reception.
For tapas catering in DA15, DA14 and SE9, we plan around your venue and timings. Local streets include Main Road, Alder Road and Sidcup Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Longlands is on the A211, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. For events just outside Longlands, we cover Foxbury (1 mile south), New Eltham (1 mile north-west), Chislehurst (1 mile south-west), Coldharbour (1 mile west) and Blackfen (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (9 miles north-west), City of Westminster (12 miles north-west), Marylebone (12 miles north-west), Kensington (13 miles west), St Pancras (11 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (10 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Queen Mary's Hospital (1 mile south-east) and Greenwich Castle (5 miles north-west). Not far away are Summer Hill and The Tarn.
- Schools near Longlands include Chislehurst School for Girls (0.8 miles south)
- Nearby, you will find Ye Olde Black Horse Inn (0.7 miles north-east)
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. At midsummer, it is light in Longlands 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.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Why choose live paella in Longlands?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Catering across Greater London, including Longlands
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Check diets in advance
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Serving boards and crockery.
Where we can cook in Longlands
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
As a London location, Longlands is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
FAQs for Longlands
We’re having a ceremony at Christ Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What about parking in Longlands?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll work around it.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Nearby places to Longlands
Other catering in Longlands
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
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.
- 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