Greater London · England
Tapas Catering in Thornton Heath
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Thornton Heath and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering near Thornton Heath
Why choose live paella in Thornton Heath?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- A clear, itemised quote
Read How we price And The cost guide.
Tapas catering in Thornton Heath, made fresh on the day
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Popular choices include albóndigas, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater drinks reception canapés and tapas starters.
Tapas work well for receptions and parties in Thornton Heath, in a home, a venue or an office. Let us know about parking and loading. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Thornton Heath (CR7, SW16, SE25)
- County
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How the day works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Sunset in Thornton Heath is around 9:20pm in 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.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
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. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Your questions about tapas catering in Thornton Heath
What’s the nearest station to Thornton Heath for guests?
Thornton Heath has its own station: Thornton Heath station.
What about parking in Thornton Heath?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will work around it.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Bar staff and sangria.
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Planning a tapas spread in Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath is about 7 miles south of London, in Greater London. Give us the address of your event in Thornton Heath, and we’ll plan access and set-up. We cover 764 places across Greater London. You can also see our page for London, about 7 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Kingswood House (2.4 miles north-east) and Addington Palace (4.2 miles south-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Parks such as Grangewood Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Tapas catering in CR7, SW16 and SE25 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on Ena Road, Elm Road and Mayo Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Thornton Heath sits on or near the A23 and A212, which makes travel to your event easy. Close by, we cover events in Norbury (1 mile north), Pollards Hill (1 mile north), Mitcham (2 miles west), Hackbridge (2 miles west) and Eastfields (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in London (7 miles north), City of Westminster (8 miles north), Marylebone (8 miles north), Kensington (8 miles north-west), St Pancras (9 miles north) and Shoreditch (9 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Crystal Palace Museum (1.9 miles north-east) and Addiscombe (1.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Biggin Wood and Duppas Hill.
- Schools near Thornton Heath include Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College for Girls (0.8 miles north) and The Archbishop Lanfranc School (1.1 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find Prince George pub (0.7 miles east)
Towns and villages near Thornton Heath
Also in Thornton Heath
Where we can cook in Thornton Heath
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Parking near the venue
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- A spot for our serving station
Thornton Heath is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Thornton Heath
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
For event organisers in Thornton Heath
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Events we cater in Thornton Heath
Tapas are sociable food.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Cocktail parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Tapas starters
- Anniversary parties
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Stephen, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- Who provides the crockery
- What happens if it rains
- Any travel, parking or access charges
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’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
- 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