Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Farnborough, Hampshire
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Farnborough and across Hampshire.
- Birthday drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening grazing
Tapas catering in Farnborough
What happens on the day
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it is light in Farnborough until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
About our tapas catering in Farnborough
We’ll suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, starter or main event. On the menu are albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and Serrano ham, and we’re often booked for drinks reception canapés and evening grazing.
In a town like Farnborough, tapas suit garden parties, hall parties and receptions. We need a small area to finish hot tapas. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Also near Farnborough
What else we do in Farnborough
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Farnborough: your questions answered
What’s the nearest station to Farnborough for guests?
Farnborough Main station, about 0.5 miles east of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Christopher?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
How many tapas per person?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Add sangria or cava
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Receptions and parties in Farnborough
Farnborough is about 31 miles south-west of City of Westminster, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the GU14 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover 683 places across Hampshire. We cook right across the region, from Farnborough to Guildford (about 9 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Farnborough, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. A picnic in Snaky Lane Community Wildlife Area? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering.
Anywhere in GU14, GU11 and GU17, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Wallis Square, Church Road West and Longleat Square, and we can cook for an event on any of them. You will find Farnborough on the A325 and A327, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Farnborough, we cover Cove (1 mile west), North Camp (1 mile south-east), Southwood (1 mile west), Mytchett (2 miles east) and Ash Vale (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (15 miles west), Fleet (3 miles south-west), Alton (13 miles south-west), Yateley (4 miles north-west), Bordon (13 miles south) and Hook (8 miles west). Being one of Hampshire’s larger places, Farnborough has lots of places to hold an event.
Other landmarks nearby include Frimley Park Hospital (2 miles north-east) and Hart Shopping Centre (3.3 miles west). Not far away are Aunt's Pool and Ball Hill.
- Schools near Farnborough include Cove School (0.6 miles north-west) and Henry Tyndale School (1.1 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Tilly Shilling pub (within half a mile east)
- Other local spots include National Aerospace Library (0.8 miles south-east)
Where we can cook in Farnborough
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Space on each table
- Access to unload near the serving area
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
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. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Farnborough
- Catering across Hampshire, including Farnborough
- A clear, itemised quote
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Organising for someone else?
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Perfect for your event in Farnborough
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement celebrations
- Welcome-drink canapés
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Christopher.
Before booking anyone
- Payment terms and deposit
- What happens if it rains
- Allergen information for each dish
- The deadline for final numbers
- 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