Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Fair Oak, Hampshire
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Fair Oak and the surrounding area.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Evening sharing boards
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering in Fair Oak
How our tapas catering works in Fair Oak
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. Typical bookings include birthday drinks and tapas and paella menus, with Serrano ham, patatas bravas and tortilla española.
Tapas make a party in Fair Oak easy and sociable. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Receptions and parties in Fair Oak
Fair Oak is about 2 miles east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Fair Oak or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Fair Oak is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Fair Oak, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as Saint Thomas, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
We cook at events all over SO50. We can cater an event on streets such as Dean Road, Witt Road and Sandy Lane or the roads around them. Other places close to Fair Oak for tapas catering include Horton Heath (1 mile south), Wintershill (2 miles east), Durley (2 miles south-east), Lower Upham (2 miles east) and Durley Street (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (7 miles north), Gosport (13 miles south-east), Havant (15 miles south-east), Fareham (9 miles south-east), Horndean (13 miles east) and Totton (10 miles west).
A little further out are Moorgreen Hospital (2.7 miles south-west) and Eastleigh Museum (2.5 miles west). Not far away are Bishops Waltham Branch LNR.
- Nearby schools include Wyvern Technology College (within half a mile south) and Wyvern Technology College (under half a mile south)
- Local pubs include The Old George Public House (less than half a mile north)
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. A summer drinks reception in Fair Oak has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Check diets in advance
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Each dish is labelled.
Add a live paella main.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Unloading access
- Permission from the venue
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Places near Fair Oak
More for events in Fair Oak
Fair Oak: your questions answered
Is Fair Oak close to London?
Roughly 64 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Saint Thomas?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The paellas you choose
- The length of service
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. 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
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
- The address or venue name
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Live paella or other catering?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Fair Oak hosts choose us
- Events in Fair Oak and across Hampshire
- A quote that spells everything out
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Perfect for your event in Fair Oak
They work for any size of event.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Fair Oak, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Evening grazing
- Engagement drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Welcome-drink canapés
Nearby historic houses include South Stoneham House (3.9 miles south-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Comparing caterers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether VAT is included
- How bad weather is handled
- How late numbers can change
- 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