Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Ashlett
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Ashlett: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement drinks
- Tapas starters
Tapas catering near Ashlett
Tapas catering in Ashlett, cooked live
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. For cocktail parties and canapés with welcome drinks, we will put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and croquetas for your guests.
Near Ashlett, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Ashlett? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Drinks service on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
What affects the price in Ashlett
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
- Parking and unloading
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Also near Ashlett
What else we do in Ashlett
What happens on the day
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening receptions in Ashlett stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Ashlett? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
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Ashlett: venues and local tips
Ashlett is about 4 miles south-east of Hythe, in Hampshire. From the centre of Ashlett to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 7 miles away.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Ashlett, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of All Saints. The New Forest National Park is within about 5 miles of Ashlett, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Wherever your event is in SO45, we can cook for your guests. For events just outside Ashlett, we cover Stonehills (1 mile south-west), Fawley (1 mile west), Sprat's Down (1 mile south), Calshot (1 mile south-east) and Blackfield (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in Gosport (8 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles north), Fareham (7 miles east), Horndean (15 miles east), Totton (10 miles north-west) and Chandler's Ford (11 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Calshot Castle (1.6 miles east) and Coldeast (4 miles north-east). Open spaces near Ashlett include Mercury Marshes.
- Schools near Ashlett include The New Forest Academy (2.1 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find Falcon Hotel (under half a mile west)
Occasions we cook for in Ashlett
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Evening grazing
- Anniversary parties
- Drinks reception canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
For guests coming by train, Hamble station is about 3.1 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- If the price includes VAT
- Staff numbers and hours
- What happens if it rains
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
What we need at the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Permission from the venue
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Ashlett
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
Ashlett: your questions answered
Is Ashlett too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of All Saints?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
How many different paellas?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
- 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