Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Shirley, Greater London
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Shirley. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Engagement parties
- Tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Book tapas catering in Shirley
Tapas catering in Shirley, cooked live
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. Typical bookings include work receptions and birthday drinks, with Serrano ham, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Shirley. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Shirley (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
How it works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. At midsummer, it is light in Shirley until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like 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 circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the 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.
Read more
Planning a tapas spread in Shirley
Shirley is about 2 miles north-east of Croydon, in Greater London. For an event in Shirley, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Shirley. Shirley is one of 764 places in Greater London where we cook. You can also see our page for London, about 8 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St George The Martyr Church. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Elmers End station, about 1.2 miles north.
Wherever your event is in CR0, SE25 and CR9, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Poppy Lane, Homer Road and Craven Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Shirley sits on or near the A232, which makes travel to your event easy. If your venue is just outside Shirley, we also cover Monks Orchard (1 mile north), Shirley Oaks (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile west), Ashburton (1 mile north-west) and Woodside (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (8 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
Nearby you will also find National Psychosis Unit (1 mile east) and Addiscombe (1.2 miles west). Open spaces near Shirley include Duppas Hill and Bramley Bank.
- Nearby schools include Orchard Way Primary School (0.6 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Cricketers pub (within half a mile west)
What affects the price in Shirley
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Parking and unloading
- The number of people
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and time of the event
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
Send us the date, your venue or CR0 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Tapas go out to the tables.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Perfect for your event in Shirley
Tapas get people talking.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Cocktail parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas and paella menus
- Work receptions
Parks such as Ashburton Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Questions to ask before booking
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether travel is included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Staff numbers and hours
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Access to unload near the serving area
- A spot for our serving station
Shirley is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
Places near Shirley
Also in Shirley
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Paella compared with other options
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- A quote that spells everything out
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Questions from Shirley
We’re having a ceremony at St George The Martyr Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Shirley?
Elmers End station, about 1.2 miles north of the centre.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes, tapas work on their own, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
- 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