Isle of Wight · England
Tapas Catering for Dunsbury events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Dunsbury and the surrounding area.
- Cocktail parties
- Birthday drinks
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering for Dunsbury events
Tapas catering in Dunsbury, cooked live
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. Typical bookings include office parties and launches and welcome-drink canapés, with padrón peppers, Serrano ham and croquetas.
In a rural spot like Dunsbury, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Dunsbury (PO30)
- Area hub
- Isle of Wight
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Events we cater in Dunsbury
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Table tapas as a starter
Nearby historic houses include Mottistone Manor (1.2 miles east) and Swainston Manor (4 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Questions to ask before you book
- The venue requirements
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Payment terms and deposit
- Staff numbers and hours
How it works
Here’s how the day generally runs: 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. Evening receptions in Dunsbury stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
Dunsbury questions
We are having a ceremony at St. Mary's Church: 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 typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook near the sea around Dunsbury?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How much does tapas catering cost in Dunsbury?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Nearby places to Dunsbury
Other catering in Dunsbury
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Dunsbury: venues and local tips
Dunsbury is about 7 miles south-west of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. For an event in Dunsbury, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Dunsbury. Dunsbury is one of 125 towns and villages in the Isle of Wight where we cook. Our events stretch from Dunsbury to Southampton (about 18 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Dunsbury, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St. Mary's Church. The coast is within about 4 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cover events in every part of the PO30 postcode area and the streets around it. Nearby, we also cater events in Brook (1 mile south), Hulverstone (1 mile south-east), Brookgreen (1 mile south-east), Shalcombe (1 mile north-east) and Chilton Green (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Newport (7 miles north-east), Ryde (14 miles east), Cowes (9 miles north-east), Sandown (13 miles east), Shanklin (12 miles east) and Ventnor (12 miles east). Some remote venues need extra planning, so ask early about your event.
Nearby you will also find Yarmouth Castle (3.9 miles north-west) and Calbourne Water Mill And Rural Museum (2.3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Dunsbury include Westover Down.
What tapas catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Tapas go out to the tables.
Staff to serve canapés.
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.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Venue approval for outside catering
For somewhere as remote as Dunsbury, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Dunsbury hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Fast service from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- 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