Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in South Hornchurch, Greater London
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across South Hornchurch and Greater London, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Work receptions
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering in South Hornchurch
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
About our tapas catering in South Hornchurch
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. For anniversary parties and engagement celebrations, we can cook albóndigas, croquetas and padrón peppers.
Tapas work well for receptions and parties in South Hornchurch, in a home, a venue or an office. Tell us about access and parking. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- South Hornchurch (RM13, RM10, RM12)
- County
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella or other catering?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read How we price And The cost guide.
Towns and villages near South Hornchurch
Also in South Hornchurch
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Venue approval for outside catering
South Hornchurch 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 will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
Occasions we cook for in South Hornchurch
Big or small, tapas work.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In South Hornchurch, people book us for events such as:
- Cocktail parties
- Anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening grazing
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St John's Parish Church.
What your quote should include
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether travel is included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether VAT is included
South Hornchurch: your questions answered
What’s the nearest station to South Hornchurch for guests?
The closest is Rainham (Essex) station, roughly 0.9 miles away.
Could we have live paella in Beam Valley Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Can we add drinks?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Receptions and parties in South Hornchurch
South Hornchurch is about 3 miles south of Romford, in Greater London. Give us the address of your event in South Hornchurch, and we will plan access and set-up. We cater in all 764 towns and villages in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from South Hornchurch to London (12 miles away).
Historic buildings near South Hornchurch frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Rainham (Essex) station, about 0.9 miles south.
We cook at events all over RM13, RM10 and RM12 and the streets around it. From Hood Road, Ford Lane and Philip Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside South Hornchurch, we cover Beam Park (1 mile south-west), Rainham (1 mile south-east), Hornchurch Marshes (1 mile south-west), Dagenham (1 mile north-west) and Elm Park (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (12 miles west), City of Westminster (15 miles west), Marylebone (14 miles west), St Pancras (13 miles west), Shoreditch (11 miles west) and Walthamstow (10 miles north-west).
A little further out are The Brewery (3.1 miles north) and Erith Museum (3.4 miles south). The countryside around South Hornchurch includes Ingrebourne Marshes.
- Nearby schools include The Brittons Academy (0.5 miles north) and The Chafford School (1.3 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Bell pub (0.8 miles south)
- Local facilities include River (1.4 miles west)
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Add sangria or cava
Afterwards, we clear away.
Sangria and bar staff.
What affects the price in South Hornchurch
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Anything your venue supplies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The address or venue name
Planning tapas catering in South Hornchurch? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. At midsummer, it is light in South Hornchurch until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:50pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
- 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