Greater London · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Waterloo, Greater London
Planning tapas catering in Waterloo? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Engagement celebrations
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Work receptions
Book tapas catering in Waterloo
Tapas catering in Waterloo, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. We cook Serrano ham, albóndigas and tortilla española, and we’re regularly asked to cater tapas and paella menus and drinks reception canapés.
In Waterloo, tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties and work events, indoors or out. Tell us about access and parking. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
- Area
- Waterloo (SE1, SE11, WC2N)
- Region
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Receptions and parties in Waterloo
Waterloo is about 1 mile west of London, in Greater London. Whether your event is in the middle of Waterloo or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Waterloo is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London we cover.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Christ Church. For guests coming by train, London Waterloo station is in Waterloo itself.
For tapas catering in SE1, SE11 and WC2N, we plan around your venue. Local streets include York Road, Spur Road and Bear Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. You will find Waterloo on the A301 and A302, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Close by, we cover events in South Bank (1 mile north-west), Bankside (1 mile north-east), Adelphi (1 mile north-west), Temple (1 mile north) and Charing Cross (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hoxton (3 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Orpington (12 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find Liberty of the Savoy (0.7 miles north-west) and Florence Nightingale Museum (within half a mile west). Green spaces nearby include Ludgate Hill and Bellenden Road Nature Garden.
- Local schools include Oasis Academy South Bank (within half a mile south) and Oasis Academy South Bank (within half a mile south)
- Local pubs include The Duke of Sussex pub (less than half a mile east)
- Other local spots include Lambeth Palace Library (less than half a mile south-west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
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.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell generally draws people over. At midsummer, it’s light in Waterloo until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Why choose tapas catering in Waterloo?
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Waterloo and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Engagement drinks
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Tapas before paella
Nearby historic houses include Benjamin Franklin House (0.7 miles north-west) and Dr Johnson's House (1 mile north). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before you book anyone
- When final numbers are due
- When payment is due
- VAT, if it applies
- Space, access and power needs
Places near Waterloo
What else we do in Waterloo
Waterloo: your questions answered
Is parking a problem for events in Waterloo?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We’ll plan unloading around it.
What’s the nearest station to Waterloo for guests?
Waterloo has its own station: London Waterloo station.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Permission from the venue
- A spot for our serving station
As a London location, Waterloo is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Waterloo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Ask for labels on each dish
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Sangria and bar staff.
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Waiting and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What we need to know
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The courses you’d like
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Waterloo? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
- 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