Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Ellingham, Hampshire
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Ellingham: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Work receptions
- Drinks parties and receptions
Book tapas catering in Ellingham
Tapas catering in Ellingham, made fresh on the day
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. Typical bookings include cocktail parties and evening grazing, with croquetas, Serrano ham and padrón peppers.
Near Ellingham, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
What tapas catering costs
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- How many staff you need
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Roughly how many adults and children
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Add sangria or cava
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Occasions we cook for in Ellingham
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Ellingham and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Evening grazing
- Anniversary parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Welcome-drink canapés
Historic buildings near Ellingham frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Before you book anyone
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the price includes, item by item
- The wet-weather plan
- How late numbers can change
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Unloading access
- Space for a serving table or station
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Ellingham
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
More for events in Ellingham
Your questions about tapas catering in Ellingham
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mary and All Saints: 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 Ellingham too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Do you cover Ellingham?
We do. Ellingham is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Ellingham: venues and local tips
Ellingham is in Hampshire. For tapas catering in Ellingham, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Ellingham. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Ellingham to Southampton (about 18 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary and All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Ellingham is within about 6 miles of the New Forest National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in BH24, we can bring tapas catering to you. If your venue is just outside Ellingham, we also cover Blashford (1 mile south-east), Ibsley (1 mile north-east), Rockford (1 mile east), Harbridge (1 mile north) and Mockbeggar (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cater in Totton (13 miles east), Lymington (13 miles south-east), New Milton (10 miles south-east), Barton on Sea (11 miles south-east), Marchwood (15 miles east) and Ashley (10 miles south-east).
A little further out are Fordingbridge Doll Museum (3.8 miles north) and St Leonard's Hospital (4.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Ellingham includes Linbrook Lake and Blashford Lakes.
- Pubs nearby include The Old Beams Inn (0.9 miles north)
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, it’s light in Ellingham until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:05pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
Read more
Is live paella right for your event?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why us?
- Events in Ellingham and across Hampshire
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
- 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