Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Smithfield, Greater London
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 for events in Smithfield.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement parties
- Evening grazing
Book tapas catering in Smithfield
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Tapas catering in Smithfield, cooked live
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. On the menu are Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and albóndigas, and typical bookings are for engagement celebrations and tapas and paella menus.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Smithfield. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Area
- Smithfield (EC1V, EC1P, EC1R)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Smithfield: venues and local tips
Smithfield is about 1 mile north of London, in Greater London. For tapas catering in Smithfield, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Smithfield. Smithfield is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Bartholomew-the-Less. Historic houses near Smithfield include Dr Johnson's House (under half a mile south-west) and Mansion House (0.7 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Anywhere in EC1V, EC1P and EC1R, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on Oat Lane, Shoe Lane and Long Lane. With the A1 and A4 close by, Smithfield is simple for us to get to for your event. For events just outside Smithfield, we cover Farringdon (1 mile north), Blackfriars (1 mile south), Holborn (1 mile west), Temple Bar (1 mile south-west) and Clerkenwell (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (4 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Postal Museum (less than half a mile south-east) and Finsbury Health Centre (0.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Smithfield includes Ludgate Hill and St. James's Park Lake.
- Schools near Smithfield include St Alban's Church of England Primary School (less than half a mile west) and London Nautical School (0.9 miles south)
- Nearby, you will find Oriole pub (less than half a mile south-west)
- Local facilities include Barts Health Archives (under half a mile south-east) and County of London (0.5 miles south-east)
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space for a serving table or station
- Unloading access
Smithfield is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Smithfield: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Postman's Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
We’re having a ceremony at St Bartholomew-the-Less: 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 typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How much tapas do we need?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
Do you come to Smithfield?
We do. We cook at events in Smithfield and across Greater London. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What tapas catering costs
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- How many courses
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How long we are needed on site
- Travel, parking and access
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and time of the event
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Check diets in advance
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Serving boards and crockery.
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh. Sunset in Smithfield is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- 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
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Places near Smithfield
More for events in Smithfield
Why choose live paella in Smithfield?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why Smithfield hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Events in Smithfield and across Greater London
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
- 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