Southampton · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Eling, Southampton
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Eling.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Work receptions
- Engagement celebrations
Live tapas catering in Eling
Eling questions
What’s the nearest station to Eling for guests?
Totton station, in Eling itself.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
Which areas do you serve?
We cater across London and the South East, including Southampton. See all areas.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Are the tapas fresh?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Tapas catering for your event in Eling
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. We cook Serrano ham, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater tapas and paella menus and receptions and drinks parties.
For a party in a place like Eling, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- Eling (SO40, SO15)
- County
- Southampton
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Eling: venues and local tips
Eling is about 1 mile south-east of Totton, in Southampton. From the centre of Eling to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Eling is one of 40 places in Southampton where we cook.
Historic buildings near Eling frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary. Eling is within about 5 miles of the New Forest National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 4 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cook at events all over SO40 and SO15. That could mean an event in a garden on Bury Lane, Rose Road and Mill Road. Eling is on the A35, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Nearby, we also cater events in Redbridge (1 mile north-east), Millbrook (2 miles east), Hillyfields (2 miles north-east), Maybush (2 miles north-east) and Regents Park (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Southampton (4 miles east), Townhill Park (6 miles east), Midanbury (5 miles east), Thornhill (6 miles east), Chartwell Green (6 miles east) and Harefield (6 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Eling Experience (0.6 miles north) and Westquay (3.5 miles east). Not far away are Testwood Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Hounsdown School (0.6 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Anchor pub (less than half a mile east)
More for events in Eling
Events we cater in Eling
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Evening grazing
- Tapas starters
- Office parties and launches
- Birthday drinks
Historic houses near Eling include Southampton Tudor House and Garden (3.6 miles east) and Medieval Merchant's House (3.6 miles east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Questions to ask before booking
- How each diet is kept separate
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- How bad weather is handled
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
What happens on the day
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. A summer drinks reception in Eling has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Planning tapas catering in Eling? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Is live paella right for your event?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas work brilliantly. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Collect dietary needs
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Afterwards, we clear away.
Staff to serve canapés.
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Guest numbers
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and time of the event
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Parking near the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- 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