Greater London · England
Tapas Catering for St Mary Cray 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 turns food into part of your event in St Mary Cray.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening sharing boards
Live tapas catering in St Mary Cray
Events we cater in St Mary Cray
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
In St Mary Cray and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Engagement parties
- Office parties and launches
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas before paella
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What to look for in a quote
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The wet-weather plan
How our tapas catering works in St Mary Cray
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Whether it’s table tapas as a starter and birthday and anniversary parties, we will put together a menu of albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española for your guests.
In St Mary Cray, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, in a home, a venue or an office. Tell us about access and parking. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- St Mary Cray (BR5, BR6, BR7)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Receptions and parties in St Mary Cray
St Mary Cray is about 11 miles south-east of London, in Greater London. For tapas catering in St Mary Cray, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. St Mary Cray is one of 764 places in Greater London we cover. We cook right across the region, from St Mary Cray to London (11 miles away).
Parks such as Jubilee Country Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you are looking at a historic venue around St Mary Cray, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. St Mary Cray is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in BR5, BR6 and BR7, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include New Road, Kent Road and Park Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. St Mary Cray sits on or near the A224, which makes travel to your event easy. We also cook at events in Poverest (1 mile south-west), St Paul's Cray (1 mile north), Orpington (1 mile south), Derry Downs (1 mile south-east) and Kevington (1 mile east). Further out, we also cater in London (11 miles north-west), City of Westminster (14 miles north-west), Marylebone (14 miles north-west), Kensington (15 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (12 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include London Borough of Bromley Museum (0.9 miles south) and Lullingstone Castle (4.5 miles south-east). The countryside around St Mary Cray includes Summer Hill and The Warren.
- Nearby schools include Walsingham School (0.9 miles north) and Harris Academy Orpington (1.2 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Blue Anchor Public House (less than half a mile north-east)
Towns and villages near St Mary Cray
Other catering in St Mary Cray
The process
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Evening receptions in St Mary Cray 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 hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Read more
Where we can cook in St Mary Cray
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Room for a tapas table
- Space on each table
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
As a London location, St Mary Cray is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Serving boards and crockery.
Your questions about tapas catering in St Mary Cray
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Do we need staff for canapés?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
Do you cook tapas on site?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
What affects the price in St Mary Cray
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many staff you need
- Timings and hours
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The courses you’d like
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The venue or postcode
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
- 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