Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Sanderstead, Greater London
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Sanderstead and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Launches and office parties
Planning an event in Sanderstead?
Perfect for your event in Sanderstead
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Engagement celebrations
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Evening grazing
- Table tapas as a starter
Historic houses near Sanderstead include Addington Palace (2.3 miles north-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Questions to ask before you book
- VAT, if it applies
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the price includes, item by item
Tapas catering in Sanderstead, made fresh on the day
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. We are frequently asked to cater engagement celebrations and table tapas as a starter, with patatas bravas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Sanderstead. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Area
- Sanderstead (CR2, CR8)
- Region
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Common questions in Sanderstead
What’s the nearest station to Sanderstead for guests?
The closest is Riddlesdown station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
Can you cook in Littleheath Woods?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Sanderstead.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How long we are needed on site
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How many courses
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What to tell us
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The courses you’d like
- The address or venue name
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Receptions and parties in Sanderstead
Sanderstead is about 2 miles east of Purley, in Greater London. Across the CR2 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 764 towns and villages in Greater London. You can also see our page for London, about 11 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Riddlesdown station is about 0.8 miles away. If you are looking at a historic venue around Sanderstead, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
We cater events across CR2 and CR8. That could mean an event in a garden on Hyde Road, Brian Avenue and Sundown Avenue or the roads around them. Main roads around Sanderstead include the A2022, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Nearby, we also cater events in Riddlesdown (1 mile south-west), Kenley (1 mile south-west), South Croydon (1 mile north-west), Selsdon (1 mile north-east) and Hamsey Green (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (13 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (12 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (2.1 miles north-west) and St George's Walk (2.7 miles north). The countryside around Sanderstead includes Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
- Nearby schools include Riddlesdown Collegiate (0.7 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Selsdon Park Hotel (0.9 miles east)
- Local facilities include County Borough of Croydon (2.6 miles north)
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Before you choose a spot
We will be honest if a space will not work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Unloading access
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
As a London location, Sanderstead 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 you book.
Popular choices
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
Places near Sanderstead
Other catering in Sanderstead
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s served at its best. A summer drinks reception in Sanderstead has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Paella compared with other options
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Events in Sanderstead and across Greater London
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
- 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