Greater London · England
Tapas Catering in St Luke's
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in St Luke's: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening sharing boards
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering near St Luke's
About our tapas catering in St Luke's
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. On the menu are patatas bravas, croquetas and Serrano ham, and typical bookings are for tapas before paella and launches and office parties.
In St Luke's, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, in a home, a venue or an office. Tell us about access and parking. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- St Luke's (N1, EC1V, EC2A)
- County
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
How the day works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in St Luke's stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Get 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, use our quote form.
Read more
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why us?
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
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:
- Add sangria or cava
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Tapas for events in St Luke's
St Luke's is about 2 miles north of London, in Greater London. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around St Luke's. We cover 764 places in Greater London.
Guests travelling by rail: St Luke's has its own station, Old Street station. Parks such as Artillery Ground have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Tapas catering in N1, EC1V and EC2A is planned around your venue. Streets in the area include Long Lane, City Road and Moor Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. St Luke's is on the A1 and A501, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside St Luke's, we also cover Finsbury (1 mile south), Barbican Estate (1 mile south), Shoreditch (1 mile east), Hoxton (1 mile north-east) and City of London (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover City of Westminster (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (5 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Brompton (4 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Montfichet's Tower (0.9 miles south-west) and County of London (0.7 miles south). Green spaces nearby include St. James's Park Lake and Barnsbury Wood.
- Nearby schools include Central Foundation Boys' School (within half a mile east) and Charterhouse Square School (within half a mile south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Masque Haunt pub (within half a mile east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Barts Health Archives (0.7 miles south-west)
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Nearby places to St Luke's
Also in St Luke's
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space on each table
- Space for a serving table or station
- Parking near the venue
As a London location, St Luke's is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Your choice of paellas
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Guest numbers
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The courses you’d like
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The address or venue name
Send us the date, your venue or N1 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
St Luke's questions
Can you cook in Artillery Ground?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
We are having a ceremony at Jewin Welsh Presbyterian Chapel: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Occasions we cook for in St Luke's
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
After a ceremony at a church such as Jewin Welsh Presbyterian Chapel, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- The deadline for final numbers
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- 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