Southampton · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Bassett, Southampton
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Bassett: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
- Anniversary parties
Book tapas catering in Bassett
Tapas catering in Bassett, made fresh on the day
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We are often asked to cater drinks reception canapés and sharing tapas starters, with gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
For a party in a place like Bassett, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- Bassett (SO16, SO17, SO15)
- Region
- Southampton
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why book with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What else we do in Bassett
Common questions in Bassett
Which station should guests use for Bassett?
The closest is Swaythling station, roughly 1.5 miles away.
Can you cook near the sea around Bassett?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
Do you cover Bassett?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Bassett is within our area. To check your date, use our quote form.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Are the tapas fresh?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely.
For planners, venues and organisers
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.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
How we price tapas catering
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we are needed on site
- Your choice of paellas
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and time of the event
- Expected numbers
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Collect dietary needs
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Each dish is labelled.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Why choose tapas catering in Bassett?
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Bassett, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Engagement celebrations
- Office parties and launches
- Evening grazing
- Tapas and paella menus
For guests coming by train, Swaythling station is about 1.5 miles away.
What your quote should include
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
- If the price includes VAT
- Exactly what’s included in the price
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. A summer drinks reception in Bassett has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- 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 pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and usually vegetarian.
Drinks receptions around Bassett
Bassett is about 2 miles north-west of Southampton, in Southampton. We bring tapas catering to homes, gardens and venues in Bassett and nearby villages. We cook in 40 places across Southampton, from the larger towns to small villages.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Bassett, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Nearby historic houses include South Stoneham House (1.5 miles east) and Southampton Tudor House and Garden (2.8 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of Southampton takes in SO16, SO17 and SO15. Your event could be at a home on Burgess Road, Pointout Road and Chetwynd Road. We also cook at events in Highfield (1 mile south-east), Lordswood (1 mile west), Chilworth (1 mile north), Coxford (1 mile west) and Shirley (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Thornhill (4 miles south-east), Chartwell Green (3 miles east), Harefield (3 miles south-east), Itchen (3 miles south-east), Sholing (4 miles south-east) and Woolston (4 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Netley Castle (4.9 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (2.1 miles south). Open spaces near Bassett include Flexford Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Bassett include Hollybrook Infant School (0.6 miles south-west) and Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton (1.3 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Bellemoor pub (0.9 miles south)
- 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