Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Shortlands, Greater London
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Shortlands.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
Tapas catering near Shortlands
Should I cook it myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Tapas catering in Shortlands, made fresh on the day
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. Whether it is welcome-drink canapés and tapas before paella, we can cook padrón peppers, patatas bravas and Manchego with membrillo and more.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Shortlands. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Location
- Shortlands (BR2, BR1, BR3)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Paella compared with other options
Tapas are flexible, so they fit most plans. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What you get with us
- Catering across Greater London, including Shortlands
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Drinks service on request
- A quote that spells everything out
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
FAQs for Shortlands
Is parking a problem for events in Shortlands?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will work around it.
We’re having a ceremony at St Mark's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
What does tapas catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
A closer look at the menu
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Places near Shortlands
More for events in Shortlands
Working with your venue
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Space for a serving table or station
- Access to unload near the serving area
As a London location, Shortlands is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
How it works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Evening receptions in Shortlands stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- 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 arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Getting a price
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, use our quote form.
Planning help
Shortlands: venues and local tips
Shortlands is about 1 mile south-west of Bromley, in Greater London. For an event in Shortlands, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover 764 places in Greater London. We cook right across the region, from Shortlands to London (about 8 miles away).
Parks such as Church House Gardens have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Nearby historic houses include Bromley Palace (0.8 miles north-east) and Addington Palace (3.4 miles south-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Anywhere in BR2, BR1 and BR3, we can cook for your guests. We can cater an event on streets such as Hayes Lane, Stone Road and Hayes Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Eden Park (1 mile south-west), Hayes (2 miles south), Bromley Common (2 miles south-east), West Wickham (2 miles south-west) and Southborough (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in London (8 miles north-west), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (11 miles north-west), Kensington (11 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Bethlem Museum of the Mind (1.6 miles south-east) and The Mall (0.6 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
- Nearby schools include Langley Park School for Girls (1.2 miles south-west) and Holy Trinity College Bromley (1.4 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Richmal Crompton pub (0.6 miles east)
- Other local spots include Municipal Borough of Bromley (0.6 miles east)
Events we cater in Shortlands
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Tapas before paella
- Anniversary parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Mark's Church.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Staff numbers and hours
- What happens if it rains
- 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