Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Walton-on-Thames. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Launches and office parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Tapas catering near Walton-on-Thames
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Tapas catering in Walton-on-Thames, made fresh on the day
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. We are often asked to cater sharing boards for evening guests and tapas with a paella main course, serving Manchego with membrillo, Serrano ham and gambas al ajillo.
In a town like Walton-on-Thames, tapas suit garden parties, hall parties and receptions. We need a small area to finish hot tapas. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
What affects the price in Walton-on-Thames
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The number of people
- Distance and access to the venue
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Where the event is
- Expected numbers
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space on each table
- Unloading access
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
Why choose live paella in Walton-on-Thames?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why Walton-on-Thames hosts choose us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
What happens on the day
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. A summer drinks reception in Walton-on-Thames has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Perfect for your event in Walton-on-Thames
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening grazing
Historic houses near Walton-on-Thames include The Homewood (2.5 miles south) and Hampton Court Palace (3.3 miles north-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- How long the team stays
- The deposit and payment dates
- The deadline for final numbers
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Your questions about tapas catering in Walton-on-Thames
We are having a ceremony at St John: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Walton-on-Thames for guests?
Walton-On-Thames station, about 0.8 miles south of the centre.
How much tapas do we need?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Staff make canapés work, which we can supply.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Nearby places to Walton-on-Thames
Also in Walton-on-Thames
Drinks receptions around Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames is about 9 miles north-east of Woking, in Surrey. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Walton-on-Thames. We cover 395 places across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Walton-on-Thames to Guildford (12 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: Walton-On-Thames station is about 0.8 miles away. After a ceremony at a church such as St John, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
This part of Surrey takes in KT12 and KT13, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include High Street, Sidney Road and Stuart Avenue; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Walton-on-Thames is on the A244 and B365, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Walton-on-Thames, we cover Hersham (1 mile south), Shepperton (2 miles north-west), Burwood Park (2 miles south-west), Weybridge (2 miles south-west) and St George's Hill (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Guildford (12 miles south-west), Woking (9 miles south-west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (7 miles south-east), Redhill (14 miles south-east) and Ewell (7 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Elmbridge Museum (2.2 miles south-east) and No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital (0.8 miles west). Open spaces near Walton-on-Thames include Kempton Park Reservoirs and Ferris Meadow Lake.
- Schools near Walton-on-Thames include RES Sixth Form College (0.8 miles south)
- 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