Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Downton, Hampshire
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Downton and the surrounding area.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering in Downton
Tapas catering for your event in Downton
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings in and around Downton. Popular choices include tortilla española, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re often booked for sharing boards for evening guests and welcome-drink canapés.
For a country party near Downton, tapas and sangria set the mood. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Room for a tapas table
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
Organising for someone else?
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Include staff for canapés
Afterwards, we clear away.
Bar staff and sangria.
Downton: venues and local tips
Downton is about 3 miles west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Events in Downton are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Downton is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 16 miles away.
Historic houses near Downton include Highcliffe Castle (4.2 miles west). 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 All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The New Forest National Park is within about 6 miles of Downton, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 4 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO41. From Hordle Lane and Shorefield Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. For events just outside Downton, we cover Leagreen (1 mile east), Hordle (1 mile north), Ashley (2 miles north-west), Barton on Sea (2 miles west) and New Milton (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Totton (13 miles north), Lymington (3 miles east), Hythe (13 miles north-east), Ringwood (10 miles north-west), Dibden Purlieu (12 miles north-east) and Marchwood (13 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Lymington New Forest Hospital (3.7 miles north-east) and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (2.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Downton include Milford on Sea LNR.
- Schools near Downton include The Arnewood School (2.1 miles west)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Downton hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A clear, itemised quote
- We cover Downton and the whole of Hampshire
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Towns and villages near Downton
Also in Downton
Why choose tapas catering in Downton?
Big or small, tapas work.
Whatever you are celebrating in Downton, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Cocktail parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Historic buildings near Downton frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- How late numbers can change
- Travel and parking costs
- The wet-weather plan
- What the caterer needs from your venue
The process
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. Sunset in Downton is around 9:25pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Get 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.
Related guides
What affects the price in Downton
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How many guests are eating
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
- The length of service
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Anything your venue supplies
- Where the event is
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Your questions about tapas catering in Downton
Do you come out to small places like Downton?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
How many different paellas?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
- 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