Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Monks Orchard, Greater London
Looking for tapas catering in Monks Orchard? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Tapas before paella
- Work receptions
- Evening sharing boards
Book tapas catering in Monks Orchard
Tapas catering in Monks Orchard, cooked live
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. For evening grazing and tapas before paella, we can cook albóndigas, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo.
In Monks Orchard, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, in a home, a venue or an office. Let us know about parking and loading. We plan the timings around your day, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Monks Orchard (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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.
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
How the day works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. At midsummer, it is light in Monks Orchard 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.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Receptions and parties in Monks Orchard
Monks Orchard is about 2 miles north-east of Croydon, in Greater London. For tapas catering in Monks Orchard, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in all 764 towns and villages across Greater London. Our nearest city page is London, about 8 miles away.
Historic houses near Monks Orchard include Addington Palace (1.8 miles south) and Kingswood House (3.6 miles north). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. A picnic in Ashburton Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
We cover events in every part of the CR0, SE25 and CR9 postcode area. From Long Lane, Poppy Lane and Homer Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to Monks Orchard for tapas catering include Shirley (1 mile south), Shirley Oaks (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile west), Ashburton (1 mile north-west) and Woodside (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (8 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
A little further out are Addiscombe (1.2 miles west) and Crystal Palace Museum (2.8 miles north). Open spaces near Monks Orchard include Bramley Bank and Duppas Hill.
- Schools near Monks Orchard include Orchard Way Primary School (0.6 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Cricketers pub (within half a mile west)
Common questions in Monks Orchard
Is parking a problem for events in Monks Orchard?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We’ll work around it.
Could we have live paella in Ashburton Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How many paellas should we have?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How much tapas do we need?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Events we cater in Monks Orchard
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Evening sharing boards
- Tapas and paella menus
- Anniversary parties
- Cocktail parties
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Monks Orchard, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- Whether travel is included
- Who provides the crockery
- When final numbers are due
- The wet-weather plan
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many staff you need
- How many courses
- Timings and hours
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Expected numbers
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What you get with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- We cover Monks Orchard and the whole of Greater London
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Nearby places to Monks Orchard
What else we do in Monks Orchard
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Check diets in advance
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Sangria and bar staff.
- 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