Surrey · England
Tapas Catering for Ockham events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Ockham. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Sharing tapas starters
Tapas catering near Ockham
How our tapas catering works in Ockham
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. For launches and office parties and engagement celebrations, we can cook padrón peppers, Serrano ham and albóndigas.
Near Ockham, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Ockham hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Drinks service on request
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
See How we price And The cost guide.
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell normally draws people over. A summer drinks reception in Ockham has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
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Occasions we cook for in Ockham
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Ockham:
- Birthday drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas and paella menus
After a ceremony at a church such as All Saints' Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Whether travel is included
Tapas for events in Ockham
Ockham is about 5 miles east of Woking, in Surrey. Wherever your event is in the GU23 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Ockham is one of 395 places in Surrey we cover. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 6 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Byfleet Manor (2.3 miles north) and Hatchlands Park (2.9 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Parks such as The Forest and the Highlands have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Ockham, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Tapas catering in GU23 is planned around your venue. Streets in the area include Alms Heath, Ockham Lane and School Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Nearby, we also cater events in West Horsley (2 miles south), Ripley (2 miles west), East Horsley (2 miles south-east), Effingham (3 miles south-east) and East Clandon (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (6 miles south-west), Woking (5 miles west), Camberley (12 miles west), Epsom (9 miles east), Horley (15 miles south-east) and Redhill (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Send and Ripley History Society Museum (1.5 miles west) and Woking Community Hospital (4.4 miles west). Open spaces near Ockham include Boldermere Lake and Papercourt Marshes.
- Nearby, you will find The Black Swan pub (0.9 miles north-east)
Nearby places to Ockham
What else we do in Ockham
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Check diets in advance
- Include staff for canapés
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Add a live paella main.
What tapas catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Your questions about tapas catering in Ockham
Which station should guests use for Ockham?
The closest is Horsley station, roughly 1.7 miles away.
Is Ockham too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Are the tapas fresh?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
- 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