Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Forestside
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Forestside and the surrounding area.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement celebrations
- Welcome-drink canapés
Planning an event in Forestside?
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Whether you need crockery
- Guest numbers
- How long we are needed on site
- The paellas you choose
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Tapas catering for your event in Forestside
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Whether it’s engagement parties and launches and office parties, we’ll put together a menu of albóndigas, Serrano ham and Manchego with membrillo for your guests.
Near Forestside, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Organising for someone else?
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Is live paella right for your event?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. There is 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. Your quote spells it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Forestside
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Events in Forestside and across Hampshire
Nearby places to Forestside
What else we do in Forestside
Events we cater in Forestside
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Evening grazing
Historic buildings near Forestside often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How late numbers can change
- When payment is due
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s served at its best. Sunset in Forestside is around 9:20pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and 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.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Unloading access
- Space to finish hot dishes
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Forestside questions
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is Forestside close to London?
Roughly 54 miles from the centre of London.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, Hampshire included. Find your area.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Do you provide serving staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Receptions and parties in Forestside
Forestside is about 4 miles east of Horndean, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Forestside, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cook in 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 21 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Rowlands Castle station, about 2.2 miles south-west. A picnic in Stansted Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Forestside, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in PO9, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Lodge Lane and Forestside, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Close by, we cover events in West Marden (1 mile north-east), Chalton (3 miles north-west), Blendworth (3 miles west), Buriton (5 miles north) and Nursted (5 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Gosport (13 miles south-west), Havant (5 miles south-west), Fareham (13 miles west), Horndean (4 miles west), Waterlooville (6 miles west) and Petersfield (7 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Clanfield Earthwork (4 miles north-west) and Havant War Memorial Hospital (5 miles south-west). Not far away are Compton Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
- 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