Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Ashford, Hampshire
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Ashford.
- Work receptions
- Engagement celebrations
- Table tapas as a starter
Planning an event in Ashford?
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
How our tapas catering works in Ashford
We’ll suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. On the menu are croquetas, gambas al ajillo and Serrano ham, and we’re regularly asked to cater cocktail parties and launches and office parties.
Near Ashford, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Live paella or other catering?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- We cover Ashford and the whole of Hampshire
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
How we price tapas catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Whether you need crockery
- The number of people
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Anything your venue supplies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Events we cater in Ashford
They work for any size of event.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Anniversary parties
- Sharing tapas starters
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Sandleheath Village Hall.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if it rains
- How each diet is kept separate
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether VAT is included
Ashford: venues and local tips
Ashford is in Hampshire. Across the SP6 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Ashford to Southampton (18 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Breamore House (3 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. Historic buildings near Ashford frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Wherever your event is in SP6, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Station Road, Rookwood Gardens and Ashford Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Ashford for tapas catering include Sandleheath (1 mile west), Alderholt (2 miles south-west), Damerham (2 miles north-west), Rockbourne (3 miles north-west) and Broxhill (3 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Totton (13 miles east), Romsey (15 miles east), New Milton (14 miles south-east), Ringwood (6 miles south), Barton on Sea (14 miles south-east) and Ashley (14 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Godshill Castle Hill (2.1 miles north-east) and Fordingbridge Museum (0.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Linbrook Lake and Blashford Lakes.
- Nearby schools include The Burgate School and Sixth Form (1 mile north-east)
- Local pubs include The Ship Inn (0.6 miles east)
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Nearby places to Ashford
More for events in Ashford
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Organising a club, school or community event in Ashford? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Evening receptions in Ashford stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Read more
Common questions in Ashford
Can you cater a reception after a service at Sandleheath Village Hall?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you come out to small places like Ashford?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Add sangria or cava
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Collect dietary needs
Afterwards, we clear away.
Staff to serve canapés.
- 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