Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Thorncombe Street, Surrey
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Thorncombe Street: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Evening sharing boards
- Tapas before paella
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering for Thorncombe Street events
Drinks receptions around Thorncombe Street
Thorncombe Street is about 5 miles south of Guildford, in Surrey. Tell us where your event in Thorncombe Street will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Thorncombe Street is one of 395 places in Surrey we cover.
Historic buildings near Thorncombe Street often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Historic houses near Thorncombe Street include Loseley Park (3.4 miles north-west) and Chilworth Manor (3.9 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Thorncombe Street, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over GU5. Your event could be at a home on Thorncombe Street and Alldens Hill. Other places close to Thorncombe Street for tapas catering include Munstead Heath (1 mile west), Birtley Green (1 mile north-east), Grafham (1 mile east), Hascombe (1 mile south) and Bramley (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (5 miles north), Woking (10 miles north), Camberley (13 miles north-west), Farnham (10 miles west), Dorking (11 miles east) and Frimley (12 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Milford Hospital (2.4 miles west) and Godalming Museum (2.2 miles north-west). The countryside around Thorncombe Street includes Farncombe Wood and Hydon's Ball.
Tapas catering for your event in Thorncombe Street
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. For work receptions and receptions and drinks parties, we can cook albóndigas, Serrano ham and patatas bravas and more.
Near Thorncombe Street, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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.
What tapas catering costs
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Guest numbers
- The length of service
- Whether you need crockery
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Expected numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of the space, if you can
Planning tapas catering in Thorncombe Street? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Parking near the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
The process
Here’s how the day generally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. A summer drinks reception in Thorncombe Street has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Towns and villages near Thorncombe Street
Other catering in Thorncombe Street
Live paella or other catering?
Generic canapés all look the same. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why Thorncombe Street hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- We cover Thorncombe Street and the whole of Surrey
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Collect dietary needs
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Spanish desserts to finish.
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Your questions about tapas catering in Thorncombe Street
Do you come out to small places like Thorncombe Street?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Thorncombe Street for guests?
Godalming station, about 2.3 miles north-west of the centre.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
How much tapas do we need?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
- 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