Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Upper Norwood, Greater London
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Upper Norwood: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
Planning an event in Upper Norwood?
About our tapas catering in Upper Norwood
We will suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. Whether it is engagement drinks and drinks reception canapés, we can cook padrón peppers, albóndigas and Serrano ham.
For a London drinks party in Upper Norwood, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Upper Norwood (SE19, SE27, SE21)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Parking near the venue
As a London location, Upper Norwood is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
Towns and villages near Upper Norwood
More for events in Upper Norwood
How it works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. A summer drinks reception in Upper Norwood has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or SE19 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Related guides
Common questions in Upper Norwood
What’s the nearest station to Upper Norwood for guests?
Upper Norwood has its own station: Gipsy Hill station.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Christ Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Should we have more than one paella?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Are the tapas fresh?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue so they’re served at their best.
Upper Norwood: venues and local tips
Upper Norwood is about 4 miles south-east of Stockwell, in Greater London. For an event in Upper Norwood, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Upper Norwood. We cook in 764 places across Greater London. You can also see our page for London, about 6 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Christ Church. Historic houses near Upper Norwood include Kingswood House (0.8 miles north) and Addington Palace (4.7 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Tapas catering in SE19, SE27 and SE21 is planned around your venue and timings. We can cater an event on streets such as Dover Road, Hawke Road and Tudor Road. Upper Norwood is on the A214, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Close by, we cover events in Norwood New Town (1 mile west), Gipsy Hill (1 mile north-east), West Norwood (1 mile north-west), Crystal Palace (1 mile east) and Anerley (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (6 miles north), City of Westminster (7 miles north-west), Marylebone (7 miles north), Kensington (7 miles north-west), St Pancras (7 miles north) and Shoreditch (7 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Crystal Palace Museum (0.5 miles east) and Whitgift Centre (3.1 miles south). Open spaces near Upper Norwood include Dulwich Upper Wood and Knight's Hill.
- Local schools include Rockmount Primary School (under half a mile west) and Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School (less than half a mile north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Sparrowhawk pub (within half a mile east)
- Local facilities include St Leonard's (2 miles west)
Occasions we cook for in Upper Norwood
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Anniversary parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement drinks
- Launches and office parties
Guests travelling by rail: Upper Norwood has its own station, Gipsy Hill station.
Comparing caterers
- What the price includes, item by item
- The deadline for final numbers
- The wet-weather plan
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Organising for someone else?
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Add sangria or cava
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Events in Upper Norwood and across Greater London
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
- 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