Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Virginia Water, Surrey
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 Virginia Water.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
Tapas catering for Virginia Water events
Tapas catering in Virginia Water, made fresh on the day
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. Whether it’s tapas starters and drinks parties and receptions, we can cook Serrano ham, albóndigas and padrón peppers and more.
Tapas make a party in Virginia Water easy and sociable. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- The number of people
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Which courses you have in mind
- What the venue already provides
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Questions from Virginia Water
Can you cook in Riverside Walk?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
How far is Virginia Water from London?
About 21 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Table tapas are set down to share.
Sangria and bar staff.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space for a serving table or station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. At midsummer, it’s light in Virginia Water until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Read more
Why choose live paella in Virginia Water?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- We cover Virginia Water and the whole of Surrey
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Drinks receptions around Virginia Water
Virginia Water is about 2 miles south-west of Egham, in Surrey. Events in Virginia Water are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Virginia Water is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 11 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Botleys Mansion (2.5 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. After a ceremony at a church such as Christ Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Wherever your event is in GU25, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Chapel Square, Station Approach and Monks Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. With the B389 close by, Virginia Water is easy for us to reach. If your venue is just outside Virginia Water, we also cover Stroude (1 mile north-east), Thorpe Green (1 mile east), Wentworth (1 mile west), Thorpe (1 mile east) and Egham Wick (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Guildford (11 miles south), Woking (6 miles south), Camberley (8 miles south-west), Epsom (14 miles east), Ewell (14 miles east) and Walton-on-Thames (7 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Spelthorne Museum (3.1 miles north-east) and St. Peter's Hospital (2.5 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Virginia Water Lake and St Ann's Hill.
- Local pubs include Rose And Crown Public House (0.8 miles east)
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Nearby places to Virginia Water
Other catering in Virginia Water
Perfect for your event in Virginia Water
They work for any size of event.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Virginia Water and Surrey:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Cocktail parties
- Evening grazing
- Engagement celebrations
Parks such as Riverside Walk have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if it rains
- Who provides the crockery
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The venue requirements
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
- 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