Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Ashton, Hampshire
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Ashton: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday drinks
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering for Ashton events
Working with your venue
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
About our tapas catering in Ashton
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Typical bookings include drinks reception canapés and tapas starters, serving Serrano ham, albóndigas and gambas al ajillo.
For a country party near Ashton, tapas and sangria set the mood. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Ashton: venues and local tips
Ashton is about 5 miles north-east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. From the centre of Ashton to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Ashton is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 8 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Botley station, about 4 miles south-west. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Peter.
We cook at events all over SO32. If your venue is just outside Ashton, we also cover Upham (1 mile north-west), Bishop's Waltham (1 mile south), Durley Street (1 mile south-west), Lower Upham (1 mile west) and Wintershill (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (8 miles north-west), Gosport (12 miles south), Havant (13 miles south-east), Eastleigh (5 miles west), Fareham (8 miles south) and Horndean (10 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Bishop's Waltham Museum (1.1 miles south) and Moorgreen Hospital (5.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Ashton include Beacon Hill and Bishops Waltham Branch LNR.
- Nearby schools include Swanmore College of Technology (2.4 miles south-east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and typically vegetarian.
How the day works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Sunset in Ashton is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What affects the price in Ashton
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The venue or postcode
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
More for events in Ashton
Why choose tapas catering in Ashton?
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Ashton, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas before paella
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks reception canapés
Historic buildings near Ashton frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What your quote should include
- When final numbers are due
- Payment terms and deposit
- Space, access and power needs
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Ashton hosts choose us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Events in Ashton and across Hampshire
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Your questions about tapas catering in Ashton
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Ashton too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Add sangria or cava
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Serving boards and crockery.
- 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