Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Eastleigh
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Eastleigh and the surrounding area.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Sharing tapas starters
Planning an event in Eastleigh?
About our tapas catering in Eastleigh
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. We’re often asked to cater evening sharing boards and launches and office parties, with Serrano ham, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
In a town like Eastleigh, tapas suit garden parties, hall parties and receptions. Hot tapas need a spot to finish them. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Include staff for canapés
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Serving boards and crockery.
What affects the price in Eastleigh
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- How many guests are eating
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and rough timings
- Expected numbers
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Eastleigh: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Lakeside Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Which station should guests use for Eastleigh?
Eastleigh station, in Eastleigh itself.
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. Our guide to portions explains more.
Should we have more than one paella?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to serve.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Venues frequently 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’ll follow them.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Receptions and parties in Eastleigh
Eastleigh is about 4 miles north-east of Southampton, in Hampshire. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Eastleigh and nearby villages. Eastleigh is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover.
For guests coming by train, Eastleigh station is in Eastleigh itself. Parks such as Lakeside Country Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Tapas catering in SO50, SO30, SO31 and SO19 is planned around your venue. Streets in the area include Market Street, High Street and Scotter Square, and we can cook for an event on any of them. With the A335 and B3033 close by, Eastleigh is easy for us to reach for your event. Close by, we cover events in Bishopstoke (1 mile east), Boyatt Wood (1 mile north-west), Allbrook (2 miles north), Lord's Wood (2 miles north-east) and Highbridge (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (6 miles north), Gosport (14 miles south-east), Fareham (10 miles south-east), Horndean (15 miles east), Totton (8 miles south-west) and Hedge End (4 miles south-east). Eastleigh is among the bigger towns we cover in Hampshire, with plenty of venues for events.
Other landmarks nearby include Moorgreen Hospital (2.9 miles south) and Eastleigh Museum (within half a mile west). Green spaces nearby include Flexford Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Quilley School of Engineering (0.8 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Wagon Works pub (within half a mile north-west)
Perfect for your event in Eastleigh
They work for any size of event.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
If you are looking at a historic venue around Eastleigh, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Comparing caterers
- VAT, if it applies
- When payment is due
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Whether travel is included
Also near Eastleigh
Also in Eastleigh
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, it is light in Eastleigh until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Paella compared with other options
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- We cover Eastleigh and the whole of Hampshire
Planning the cooking area
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Room for a tapas table
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- 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