Isle of Wight · England
Tapas Catering for Branstone events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Branstone.
- Engagement drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering near Branstone
For event organisers in Branstone
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Tapas catering in Branstone, cooked live
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; for seated meals, table tapas. Many events have both. On the menu are croquetas, gambas al ajillo and Serrano ham, and we’re frequently booked for cocktail parties and table tapas as a starter.
For a country party near Branstone, tapas and sangria set the mood. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- Branstone (PO36)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, it’s light in Branstone until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Branstone, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning help
Drinks receptions around Branstone
Branstone is about 5 miles south-east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Branstone and nearby villages. Branstone is one of 125 towns and villages in the Isle of Wight where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 20 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Haseley Manor (1.2 miles north-west) and Arreton Manor (2.3 miles north-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Branstone, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
For tapas catering in PO36, we plan around your venue. That could mean an event in a garden on Branstone Farm Lane and Stockmans Close or the roads around them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Winford (1 mile east), Apse Heath (1 mile south-east), Princelett (1 mile south), Hale Common (1 mile west) and Newchurch (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Newport (5 miles north-west), Ryde (5 miles north-east), Cowes (8 miles north-west), Ventnor (4 miles south), East Cowes (8 miles north-west) and Oakfield (5 miles north-east). For an event at a remote venue, let us know early and we will plan the trip.
Well-known places in the area include Wight Aviation Museum (1.3 miles east) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (1.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Alverstone Mead and Stenbury Down.
- Local schools include Sandown Bay Academy (2.1 miles east)
What tapas catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The length of service
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Your date and when you want to eat
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Branstone
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Engagement drinks
- Launches and office parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like All Saints' Church.
Comparing caterers
- When final numbers are due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether VAT is included
Also near Branstone
What else we do in Branstone
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space on each table
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
For somewhere as remote as Branstone, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Your questions about tapas catering in Branstone
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you cater a reception after a service at All Saints' Church?
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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you cook indoors?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
- 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