Isle of Wight · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Alverstone Garden Village, Isle of Wight
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Alverstone Garden Village. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas and paella menus
- Birthday drinks
Planning an event in Alverstone Garden Village?
Where we can cook in Alverstone Garden Village
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Room for a tapas table
Alverstone Garden Village is a more remote spot, so tell us early and we will plan the journey.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
About our tapas catering in Alverstone Garden Village
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. On the menu are Serrano ham, tortilla española and albóndigas, and we are often booked for tapas with a paella main course and tapas starters.
Near Alverstone Garden Village, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated.
- Area
- Alverstone Garden Village (PO36)
- Area hub
- Isle of Wight
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What tapas catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- How many courses
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- Distance and access to the venue
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- The venue or postcode
- The date and rough timings
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Alverstone Garden Village questions
Is Alverstone Garden Village too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which station should guests use for Alverstone Garden Village?
Sandown station, about 1.3 miles south-east of the centre.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to serve.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How many tapas per person?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes, tapas work on their own, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Step by step
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Sunset in Alverstone Garden Village is around 9:20pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Alverstone Garden Village, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Tapas for events in Alverstone Garden Village
Alverstone Garden Village is about 4 miles south of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. Across the PO36 area, we can bring the pans to you. Alverstone Garden Village is one of 125 places in the Isle of Wight we cover. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 20 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like All Saints' Church. Historic buildings near Alverstone Garden Village frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cater events across the PO36 postcode area and the streets around it. Local streets include Youngwoods Way, Youngwoods Copse and Hollowood Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Alverstone (1 mile south-east), Queen's Bower (1 mile south-west), Skinner's Hill (1 mile south-west), Adgestone (1 mile north-east) and Lake (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Newport (5 miles north-west), Ryde (4 miles north), Cowes (8 miles north-west), Ventnor (5 miles south), East Cowes (7 miles north-west) and Oakfield (4 miles north). For an event at a remote venue, tell us early so we can plan the journey.
A little further out are Wight Aviation Museum (0.9 miles south) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (2.1 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Alverstone Mead and Brading Down.
- Schools near Alverstone Garden Village include Sandown Bay Academy (1.1 miles south-east) and The Bay Church of England School (1.5 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Pointer Inn (0.7 miles west)
Events we cater in Alverstone Garden Village
They work for any size of event.
In Alverstone Garden Village and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas before paella
- Table tapas as a starter
Historic houses near Alverstone Garden Village include Haseley Manor (1.6 miles west) and Nunwell House (1.9 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
What to look for in a quote
- VAT, if it applies
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Dishes our guests love
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and usually vegetarian.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Add sangria or cava
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Waiting staff for canapés.
For event organisers in Alverstone Garden Village
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Towns and villages near Alverstone Garden Village
What else we do in Alverstone Garden Village
Why choose live paella in Alverstone Garden Village?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why book with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Events in Alverstone Garden Village and across the Isle of Wight
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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