Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Colbury
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Colbury: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks parties and receptions
Live tapas catering in Colbury
Tapas catering for your event in Colbury
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Typical bookings include cocktail parties and tapas starters, with gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and tortilla española.
Near Colbury, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What you get with us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Catering across Hampshire, including Colbury
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
Places near Colbury
Other catering in Colbury
DIY paella versus live catering
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. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Bar staff and sangria.
Tapas for events in Colbury
Colbury is about 1 mile south of Totton, in Hampshire. For tapas catering in Colbury, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Colbury. Colbury is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover.
Historic buildings near Colbury frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Historic houses near Colbury include Southampton Tudor House and Garden (4.3 miles east) and Medieval Merchant's House (4.4 miles east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Colbury is within about 4 miles of the New Forest National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 5 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Here we cover the SO40 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Ashurst (1 mile west), Lyndhurst (4 miles south-west), Emery Down (4 miles south-west), Balmerlawn (6 miles south-west) and Brockenhurst (6 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (14 miles north-east), Eastleigh (8 miles north-east), Fareham (14 miles east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles north-east), Hedge End (9 miles east) and Lymington (10 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Ashurst Hospital (1 mile south-west) and National Dairy Museum (less than half a mile south). Green spaces nearby include Testwood Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Hounsdown School (0.7 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Forest Inn (less than half a mile south-west)
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Where the event is
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- A spot for our serving station
- Space on each table
- Space to finish hot dishes
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Colbury
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
Common questions in Colbury
Do you come out to small places like Colbury?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Staff make canapés work, which we can supply.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Are the tapas fresh?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue so they’re served at their best.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, often with alioli.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
The process
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, it’s light in Colbury until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
- 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