Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Monkhams, Greater London
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Monkhams. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Work receptions
- Cocktail parties
Planning an event in Monkhams?
Tapas catering for your event in Monkhams
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. On the menu are padrón peppers, patatas bravas and tortilla española, and we are frequently booked for office parties and launches and table tapas as a starter.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Monkhams. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- Monkhams (IG8, IG9, E4)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Sunset in Monkhams is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Towns and villages near Monkhams
Also in Monkhams
Drinks receptions around Monkhams
Monkhams is about 1 mile north of Woodford, in Greater London. Wherever your event is in the IG8 area, we can cook for your guests. Monkhams is one of 764 places in Greater London where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Monkhams to London (about 10 miles away).
Parks such as The Highams Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Historic buildings near Monkhams often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Here we cover the IG8, IG9 and E4 postcode area. Streets in the area include Oak Lane, Wood Lane and Mill Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. With the A121 close by, Monkhams is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. Close by, we cover events in Woodford Wells (1 mile east), Friday Hill (1 mile west), Woodford (1 mile south), Chingford Hatch (1 mile west) and Waltham Forest (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (10 miles south-west), City of Westminster (10 miles south-west), Marylebone (10 miles south-west), Kensington (13 miles south-west), St Pancras (9 miles south-west) and Shoreditch (8 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Claybury Hospital (2.1 miles south-east) and 17 & Central (3.1 miles south-west). The countryside around Monkhams includes Highams Park Lake and Pole Hill.
- Nearby schools include Trinity Catholic High School (under half a mile west) and Woodford Green Preparatory School (0.6 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Monkhams pub (0.8 miles east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Buckhurst Hill East (1.1 miles north-east)
Paella compared with other options
Tapas are flexible, so they fit most plans. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why Monkhams hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Events in Monkhams and across Greater London
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
FAQs for Monkhams
Can you cater a reception after a service at All Saints' Church?
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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook in The Highams Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What tapas catering costs
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
- What the venue already provides
Planning tapas catering in Monkhams? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Space for a serving table or station
As a London location, Monkhams is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Monkhams
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
Perfect for your event in Monkhams
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Monkhams book us for occasions like:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas starters
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like All Saints' Church.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- A clear list of what’s included
- Space, access and power needs
- The deadline for final numbers
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Collect dietary needs
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Afterwards, we clear away.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
- 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