Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for Shirley Oaks 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 Shirley Oaks.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement parties
Book tapas catering in Shirley Oaks
Tapas catering in Shirley Oaks, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. We’re often asked to cater cocktail parties and tapas starters, serving tortilla española, padrón peppers and croquetas.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Shirley Oaks. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Location
- Shirley Oaks (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
As a London location, Shirley Oaks is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
Nearby places to Shirley Oaks
Other catering in Shirley Oaks
Receptions and parties in Shirley Oaks
Shirley Oaks is about 2 miles north-east of Croydon, in Greater London. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Shirley Oaks. We cover all 764 towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 8 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as Shirley Methodist Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic houses near Shirley Oaks include Addington Palace (1.8 miles south-east) and Kingswood House (3.6 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
For tapas catering in CR0, SE25 and CR9, we plan around your venue and timings. Local streets include Poppy Lane, Baring Road and Craven Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the A232, Shirley Oaks is simple for us to get to. Other places close to Shirley Oaks for tapas catering include Shirley (1 mile east), Monks Orchard (1 mile east), 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), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
A little further out are National Psychosis Unit (1.1 miles east) and St George's Walk (1.9 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Bramley Bank and Duppas Hill.
- Local schools include St. John's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Cricketers pub (within half a mile west)
- Other local spots include Addiscombe (1 mile west)
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Check diets in advance
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Shirley Oaks questions
What about parking in Shirley Oaks?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We will plan unloading around it.
What’s the nearest station to Shirley Oaks for guests?
Elmers End station, about 1.2 miles north of the centre.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What about pudding?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
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.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Events we cater in Shirley Oaks
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Shirley Oaks book us for events such as:
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
- Anniversary parties
If you are looking at a historic venue around Shirley Oaks, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Comparing caterers
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether travel is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- What happens if it rains
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, it’s light in Shirley Oaks 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.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
Organising for someone else?
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Drinks service on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- 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