West Berkshire · England
Tapas Catering for Penwood events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Penwood.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
Tapas catering near Penwood
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. A summer drinks reception in Penwood has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Tapas catering for your event in Penwood
Sangria and bar staff can be added, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. Typical bookings include drinks parties and receptions and office parties and launches, serving Serrano ham, padrón peppers and albóndigas.
Near Penwood, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Area
- Penwood (RG20)
- County
- West Berkshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. 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.
Why Penwood hosts choose us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
What else we do in Penwood
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- A spot for our serving station
- Permission from the venue
- Parking near the venue
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
Penwood: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Penwood?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Penwood for guests?
The closest is Newbury station, roughly 3.7 miles away.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
How many different paellas?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Label seafood clearly
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Serving boards and crockery.
Tapas for events in Penwood
Penwood is about 4 miles south-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Give us the address of your event in Penwood, and we will plan access and set-up. We cover 155 places in West Berkshire. You can also see our page for Reading, about 18 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Newbury station is about 3.7 miles away. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Penwood, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
This part of West Berkshire takes in RG20, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Penwood Heights, Woodlands and Foxs Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Nearby, we also cater events in Woolton Hill (1 mile north-west), Highclere (1 mile south-west), Wash Water (1 mile north-east), Enborne Row (1 mile north) and Burghclere (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Newbury (4 miles north-east), Thatcham (6 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (13 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles north-east), Hungerford (8 miles north-west) and Calcot (15 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Newbury Castle (3.5 miles north) and British Balloon Museum & Library Ltd (3.9 miles north-east). Open spaces near Penwood include Audrey's Meadow and Sidown Hill.
- Local schools include The Clere School (1.9 miles east)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Perfect for your event in Penwood
They work for any size of event.
In Penwood and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas before paella
- Birthday drinks
- Evening grazing
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Michael Archangel.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- If the price includes VAT
What tapas catering costs
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
- Whether you need crockery
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
- The courses you’d like
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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