Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Tapnage, Hampshire
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Tapnage: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Big birthdays
- Company summer parties
Paella catering near Tapnage
Events we cater in Tapnage
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Naming days and family parties
- Company summer parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Swanwick station, about 2.4 miles south-west.
Comparing caterers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- When payment is due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
About our paella catering in Tapnage
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. That’s why it works for so many events. We are often asked to cater wedding breakfasts and evening food and office lunches and staff parties, with black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
For a rural spot like Tapnage, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
How the day works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in Tapnage? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Read more
Live paella or other catering?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Drinks service on request
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Tapnage: venues, travel and local tips
Tapnage is about 3 miles north of Fareham, in Hampshire. For paella catering in Tapnage, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 8 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as The Henry Cort Community College, can book us as a food stall. The coast is within about 5 miles of Tapnage, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in PO17, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. For events just outside Tapnage, we cover Knowle (1 mile south-east), Funtley (1 mile south), Whiteley (2 miles west), Burridge (2 miles west) and Segensworth (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (12 miles north), Gosport (7 miles south-east), Havant (10 miles east), Eastleigh (8 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles south) and Horndean (9 miles east).
A little further out are Knowle Hospital (0.9 miles south-east) and Fareham Shopping Centre (3.1 miles south-east). Open spaces near Tapnage include Swanwick Lakes.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Tapnage
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Mention any other courses or food
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Also near Tapnage
More for events in Tapnage
Tapnage questions
Do you come out to small places like Tapnage?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Tapnage close to London?
About 64 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you cater in Tapnage?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Tapnage. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Are premium seafood options available?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
For event organisers in Tapnage
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
- How many staff you need
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of where we’d cook
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
- 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