Surrey · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Whitewood, Surrey
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Whitewood. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Birthday drinks
- Launches and office parties
- Tapas starters
Book tapas catering in Whitewood
Tapas catering in Whitewood, made fresh on the day
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. Typical bookings include tapas and paella menus and office parties and launches, serving gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and croquetas.
Near Whitewood, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. A summer drinks reception in Whitewood has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
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Occasions we cook for in Whitewood
They work for any size of event.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Whitewood:
- Cocktail parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Launches and office parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Before you book anyone
- Payment terms and deposit
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether travel is included
- The wet-weather plan
For event organisers in Whitewood
Organising a club, school or community event in Whitewood? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Common questions in Whitewood
Is Whitewood too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Whitewood
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
What tapas catering costs
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How long we’re needed on site
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The venue or postcode
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
Planning tapas catering in Whitewood? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Towns and villages near Whitewood
Also in Whitewood
Receptions and parties in Whitewood
Whitewood is about 4 miles east of Horley, in Surrey. Give us the address of your event in Whitewood, and we will plan the journey and set-up. Whitewood is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover. Our events stretch from Whitewood to London (about 21 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Whitewood, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. For guests coming by train, Godstone station is about 2.2 miles away. Whitewood is within about 8 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the RH9 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. We can cater an event on streets such as Whitewood Lane and Byers Lane. Close by, we cover events in Horne (1 mile south-west), Blindley Heath (1 mile north-east), Newchapel (2 miles south-east), Lingfield Common (2 miles east) and Lingfield (3 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Epsom (13 miles north-west), Horley (4 miles west), Redhill (5 miles north-west), Ewell (14 miles north-west), Reigate (6 miles north-west) and Caterham (7 miles north).
A little further out are East Surrey Hospital (4.5 miles north-west) and Effingham Park Motor Museum (3.4 miles south). The countryside around Whitewood includes Hedgecourt Lake and Bay Pond.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Jolly Farmer pub (under half a mile south-west)
Planning the cooking area
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Add a live paella main.
- 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