Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Merrow, Surrey
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Merrow.
- Tapas starters
- Work receptions
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Book tapas catering in Merrow
How our tapas catering works in Merrow
We will suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. We cook patatas bravas, tortilla española and Serrano ham, and we’re often booked for office parties and launches and welcome-drink canapés.
Tapas make a party in Merrow easy and sociable. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Your questions about tapas catering in Merrow
Can you cook at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Can you cook in Riverside Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you provide serving staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Where we can cook in Merrow
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Space for a serving table or station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. Sunset in Merrow is around 9:20pm in 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.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Live paella or other catering?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why Merrow hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Planning a tapas spread in Merrow
Merrow is about 2 miles east of Guildford, in Surrey. From the centre of Merrow to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 395 towns and villages in Surrey.
Historic houses near Merrow include Clandon Park (0.9 miles east) and Chilworth Manor (1.8 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Historic buildings near Merrow often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Merrow, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Surrey takes in GU1 and GU4, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Park Lane, Grove Road and Wykeham Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Burpham (1 mile north-west), Abbotswood (1 mile west), West Clandon (2 miles north-east), Guildford (2 miles west) and Chilworth (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Woking (5 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Epsom (13 miles north-east), Farnham (12 miles west), Ewell (14 miles north-east) and Egham (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Guildford Castle (2.1 miles south-west) and Surrey Infantry Museum (0.6 miles north-east). The countryside around Merrow includes St Martha's Hill and Colyer's Hanger and Silent Pool.
- Schools near Merrow include St Peter's Catholic School (under half a mile west) and St Peter's Catholic School (within half a mile west)
- Local pubs include The Horse And Groom Public House (under half a mile south)
Also near Merrow
What else we do in Merrow
Working with your venue
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Occasions we cook for in Merrow
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Birthday drinks
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Engagement parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St John the Evangelist.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if it rains
- Who provides the crockery
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether travel is included
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Collect dietary needs
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Add a live paella main.
How we price tapas catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Your choice of paellas
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How long we’re needed on site
- Starters, canapés and desserts
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
- 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