Greater London · England
Tapas Catering in Shacklewell
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Shacklewell.
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday drinks
Live tapas catering in Shacklewell
Perfect for your event in Shacklewell
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Shacklewell, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Evening sharing boards
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas starters
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Barnabas.
What your quote should include
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The wet-weather plan
- How late numbers can change
About our tapas catering in Shacklewell
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they’re great on their own. Whether it is drinks parties and receptions and table tapas as a starter, we can cook Serrano ham, croquetas and padrón peppers for your guests.
For a London drinks party in Shacklewell, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Shacklewell (N16, E8, E5)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Receptions and parties in Shacklewell
Shacklewell is about 1 mile east of Highbury, in Greater London. Anywhere in N16, we can bring the pans to you. Shacklewell is one of 764 places in Greater London we cover.
Historic buildings near Shacklewell often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. A picnic in Stoke Newington Common? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering.
Wherever your event is in N16, E8 and E5, we can cook for your guests. Local streets include Muir Road, Allen Road and Downs Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Shacklewell is on the A107, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Shacklewell, we also cover West Hackney (1 mile north), Dalston (1 mile south), Kingsland (1 mile south-west), Newington Green (1 mile west) and Mildmay (1 mile south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (4 miles south), City of Westminster (4 miles south-west), Marylebone (4 miles south-west), Kensington (7 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles south-west) and Walthamstow (3 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Clowns Gallery-Museum (0.6 miles south) and Hackney Walk (0.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Shacklewell includes Hollow Pond and Woodberry Wetlands.
- Schools near Shacklewell include Shacklewell Primary School (within half a mile west) and Kingsland Secondary School (within half a mile south)
- Local pubs include The Shacklewell Arms (under half a mile south-west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Stoke Newington (0.6 miles west)
Should I cook it myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Paella compared with other options
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What you get with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- We cover Shacklewell and the whole of Greater London
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Where we can cook in Shacklewell
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space on each table
As a London location, Shacklewell is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Shacklewell
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Each dish is labelled.
Bar staff and sangria.
Nearby places to Shacklewell
What else we do in Shacklewell
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, frequently with alioli.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
The process
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Sunset in Shacklewell is around 9:20pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
FAQs for Shacklewell
Could we have live paella in Stoke Newington Common?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
What’s the nearest station to Shacklewell for guests?
Rectory Road station, in Shacklewell itself.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you cook tapas on site?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
- 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