Milton Keynes · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Tongwell, Milton Keynes
Paella 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 Tongwell.
- Evening sharing boards
- Engagement drinks
- Welcome-drink canapés
Book tapas catering in Tongwell
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- How many guests are eating
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Parking and unloading
- Your choice of paellas
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The venue or postcode
- Expected numbers
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
About our tapas catering in Tongwell
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings in and around Tongwell. Typical bookings include tapas starters and anniversary parties, serving albóndigas, patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo.
In a rural spot like Tongwell, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Where
- Tongwell (MK15, MK14, MK16)
- Region
- Milton Keynes
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
FAQs for Tongwell
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mary Magdalene: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Tongwell?
Milton Keynes Central station, about 3 miles south-west of the centre.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
What does tapas catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Tongwell
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Nearby places to Tongwell
What else we do in Tongwell
Organising for someone else?
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Perfect for your event in Tongwell
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Tongwell and Milton Keynes:
- Evening grazing
- Table tapas as a starter
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Work receptions
Historic buildings near Tongwell frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens if it rains
- Allergen information for each dish
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- If the price includes VAT
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A spot for our serving station
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
Drinks receptions around Tongwell
Tongwell is about 1 mile south of Newport Pagnell, in Milton Keynes. For an event in Tongwell, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Tongwell. We cater in all 73 towns and villages in Milton Keynes, from the larger towns to small villages.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary Magdalene. Nearby historic houses include Linford Manor (1.2 miles west) and Bletchley Park (4.9 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
This part of Milton Keynes takes in MK15, MK14 and MK16, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Maryland Road, Hooper Gate and Redvers Gate; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Tongwell for tapas catering include Caldecote (1 mile north-east), Willen (1 mile south-east), Newport Pagnell (1 mile north), Great Linford (1 mile west) and Woolstone (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Milton Keynes (3 miles south-west), Bletchley (5 miles south), Bletchley and Fenny Stratford (5 miles south), Furzton (5 miles south), Whitehouse (4 miles south-west) and Fenny Stratford (5 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Milton Keynes University Hospital (2.9 miles south) and Newport Pagnell Historical Society Museum (1.3 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Tongwell Lake and Little Linford Wood.
- Local schools include Gyosei International School UK (0.8 miles south) and Ousedale School (0.9 miles north)
- Nearby, you’ll find Giffard Park pub (0.8 miles north-west)
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:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Collect dietary needs
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Staff to serve canapés.
How it works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, it is light in Tongwell until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Getting a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
- 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