Greater London · England
Tapas Catering in Purley
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Purley: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Cocktail parties
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
Live tapas catering in Purley
How our tapas catering works in Purley
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. On the menu are Manchego with membrillo, croquetas and Serrano ham, and we are regularly asked to cater engagement parties and welcome-drink canapés.
Tapas work well for receptions and parties in Purley, in a home, a venue or an office. Tell us about access and parking. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Purley (CR8, CR2, CR5)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. Evening receptions in Purley stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
FAQs for Purley
What’s the nearest station to Purley for guests?
Purley station, in Purley itself.
Is parking a problem for events in Purley?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We will work around it.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Do you cater in Purley?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Purley and across Greater London. Send us your date to check availability.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How many paellas should we have?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Occasions we cook for in Purley
They’re the classic starter before paella.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
- Evening grazing
- Launches and office parties
If you are looking at a historic venue around Purley, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Questions to ask before booking
- VAT, if it applies
- How long the team stays
- The deadline for final numbers
- How each diet is kept separate
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and usually vegetarian.
Towns and villages near Purley
Other catering in Purley
Should I cook it myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Live paella or other catering?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Purley hosts choose us
- Drinks service on request
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- The paellas you choose
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and time of the event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Where the event is
Planning tapas catering in Purley? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A spot for our serving station
- Parking near the venue
- Venue approval for outside catering
Purley is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
Drinks receptions around Purley
Purley is about 2 miles south-west of Croydon, in Greater London. Across the CR8 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover all 764 towns and villages in Greater London. You can also see our page for London, about 11 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Addington Palace (3.6 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Swithun's.
This part of Greater London takes in CR8, CR2 and CR5. From High Street, Church Road and Brighton Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Main roads around Purley include the A2022, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Peaks Hill (1 mile north-west), Woodcote (1 mile west), Russell Hill (1 mile north), Roundshaw (1 mile north-west) and Woodcote Green (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (12 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include St George's Walk (2.7 miles north) and County Borough of Croydon (2.6 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
- Local schools include Thomas More Catholic School (0.5 miles north) and Laleham Lea School (0.9 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Jolly Farmers pub (within half a mile north-east)
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
- 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