Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Criddlestyle, Hampshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Criddlestyle.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Work receptions
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering near Criddlestyle
What affects the price in Criddlestyle
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
- Waiting and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The date and time of the event
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Criddlestyle? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
About our tapas catering in Criddlestyle
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. We are frequently asked to cater tapas starters and tapas and paella menus, serving Serrano ham, gambas al ajillo and Manchego with membrillo.
For a country party near Criddlestyle, tapas and sangria set the mood. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Criddlestyle? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
Paella compared with other options
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Criddlestyle
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A quote that spells everything out
- Catering across Hampshire, including Criddlestyle
- Fast service from the pan
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Other catering in Criddlestyle
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer drinks reception in Criddlestyle has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:05pm.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Criddlestyle questions
We are having a ceremony at St Giles: can you cater afterwards?
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 Criddlestyle too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Perfect for your event in Criddlestyle
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Criddlestyle, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas starters
- Work receptions
Historic houses near Criddlestyle include Breamore House (3 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- When payment is due
- Allergen information for each dish
Planning a tapas spread in Criddlestyle
Criddlestyle is in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the SP6 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Criddlestyle is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from Criddlestyle to Southampton (16 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Giles. If you are looking at a historic venue around Criddlestyle, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Criddlestyle is within about 8 miles of the New Forest National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in SP6, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Close by, we cover events in Sandy Balls (1 mile north-east), Stuckton (1 mile south), Horseport (1 mile west), Blissford (1 mile south-east) and Godshill (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cater in Totton (12 miles east), Lymington (15 miles south-east), Romsey (13 miles east), New Milton (13 miles south), Ringwood (6 miles south) and Barton on Sea (14 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Godshill Castle Hill (1.2 miles north) and Fordingbridge Doll Museum (0.8 miles west). The countryside around Criddlestyle includes Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
- Nearby schools include Fordingbridge Infant School (1.1 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The George Inn (0.9 miles 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