Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in The Chart, Surrey
Something 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 in The Chart.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement celebrations
Planning an event in The Chart?
Tapas catering in The Chart, made fresh on the day
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. For cocktail parties and engagement drinks, we can cook patatas bravas, padrón peppers and tortilla española and more.
Near The Chart, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Label seafood clearly
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Book staff to carry canapés round
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Spanish desserts to finish.
The process
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch while it cooks. At midsummer, it’s light in The Chart until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Parking and unloading
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Your choice of paellas
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
- What the venue already provides
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Planning a tapas spread in The Chart
The Chart is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. From the centre of The Chart to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. The Chart is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover. Our events stretch from The Chart to London (18 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Hurst Green station is about 1.6 miles away. Nearby historic houses include Chartwell (1.9 miles east) and Quebec House (2 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Tapas catering in RH8 is planned around your venue and timings. From Stoneleigh Road, St Andrews Way and Ridlands Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside The Chart, we cover Pains-Hill (1 mile west), Moorhouse Bank (1 mile north-east), Goodley Stock (1 mile east), Limpsfield (1 mile north-west) and Crockham Hill (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Epsom (15 miles north-west), Horley (10 miles south-west), Redhill (9 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (10 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Tandridge Priory (0.6 miles north-west). Open spaces near The Chart include Botley Hill and Bay Pond.
- Local schools include Hazelwood School (1.3 miles west) and Oxted School (1.9 miles west)
- Local pubs include Carpenters Arms (less than half a mile south)
FAQs for The Chart
Which station should guests use for The Chart?
Hurst Green station, about 1.6 miles west of the centre.
Is The Chart too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
More for events in The Chart
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Tapas are flexible, so they fit most plans. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Parking near the venue
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
Who books tapas catering in The Chart?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Evening grazing
- Tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Andrew's.
What to look for in a quote
- What happens if it rains
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How long the team stays
- Payment terms and deposit
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
- 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