Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Balmerlawn
Looking for tapas catering in Balmerlawn? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Live tapas catering in Balmerlawn
About our tapas catering in Balmerlawn
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Lots of events do both. On the menu are patatas bravas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo, and we’re frequently booked for table tapas as a starter and receptions and drinks parties.
Near Balmerlawn, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Nearby places to Balmerlawn
Other catering in Balmerlawn
Where we can cook in Balmerlawn
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Permission from the venue
- Space on each table
- Parking near the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
Events we cater in Balmerlawn
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas before paella
Guests travelling by rail: Brockenhurst station is about 0.9 miles away.
What your quote should include
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Staff numbers and hours
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How late numbers can change
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
How we price tapas catering
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Guest numbers
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
Larger events usually cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Where the event is
- Any dietary needs and allergies
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and usually vegetarian.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Common questions in Balmerlawn
What’s the nearest station to Balmerlawn for guests?
The closest is Brockenhurst station, roughly 0.9 miles away.
Is Balmerlawn too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
Can we add drinks?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
What happens on the day
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. Sunset in Balmerlawn is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Give us a contact for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Receptions and parties in Balmerlawn
Balmerlawn is about 5 miles north of Lymington, in Hampshire. From the centre of Balmerlawn to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 683 places across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 10 miles away.
Historic houses near Balmerlawn include Beaulieu Palace House (4.9 miles east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Nicholas, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The New Forest National Park is within about a mile of Balmerlawn, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Wherever your event is in SO42, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Close by, we cover events in Brockenhurst (1 mile south-west), Setley (1 mile south), South Weirs (2 miles south-west), Lyndhurst (3 miles north) and Emery Down (3 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Eastleigh (14 miles north-east), Totton (7 miles north), Chandler's Ford (13 miles north-east), Hedge End (13 miles north-east), Lymington (5 miles south) and Romsey (12 miles north).
A little further out are Lymington New Forest Hospital (4 miles south).
- Local pubs include Rose And Crown Hotel (0.6 miles south-west)
- 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