Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Upper Hale, Surrey
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Upper Hale. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Engagement drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Tapas catering near Upper Hale
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Upper Hale hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
How our tapas catering works in Upper Hale
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. We cook Manchego with membrillo, patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo, and we are often booked for cocktail parties and evening grazing.
Tapas make a party in Upper Hale easy and sociable. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Room for a tapas table
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space to finish hot dishes
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Upper Hale
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Who books tapas catering in Upper Hale?
They work for any size of event.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Upper Hale book us for occasions like:
- Launches and office parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
Historic houses near Upper Hale include Farnham Castle (1.1 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
What your quote should include
- How bad weather is handled
- The venue requirements
- The deposit and payment dates
- If the price includes VAT
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Check diets in advance
Afterwards, we clear away.
Serving boards and crockery.
Upper Hale: venues and local tips
Upper Hale is about 2 miles north of Farnham, in Surrey. For tapas catering in Upper Hale, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cover 395 places across Surrey. We cook right across the region, from Upper Hale to Guildford (about 10 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Farnham station, about 1.6 miles south. Parks such as Weybourne LNR have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Anywhere in GU9, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Queens Lane, Ball and Wicket Lane and Upper Hale Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. You will find Upper Hale on the A3016 and B3005, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Heath End (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile south-east), Weybourne (1 mile east), Badshot Lea (1 mile east) and Farnham (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (10 miles east), Woking (11 miles north-east), Camberley (7 miles north-east), Frimley (6 miles north-east), Haslemere (11 miles south) and Cranleigh (15 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Fleet Community Hospital (4.3 miles north-west) and Hart Shopping Centre (3.7 miles north-west). Not far away are Aunt's Pool and Beacon Hill.
- Schools near Upper Hale include Farnham Heath End School (0.6 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Six Bells pub (1 mile south-east)
- Other local spots include Prince Consort's Library (1.7 miles north-east)
Questions from Upper Hale
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Mark the Evangelist Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Could we have live paella in Weybourne LNR?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more for a suggestion.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes, tapas work on their own, for receptions, parties and evening food.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
More for events in Upper Hale
What happens on the day
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening receptions in Upper Hale stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Read more
What tapas catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
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.
What to tell us
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- The venue or postcode
- Anything your venue supplies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
- 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