Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Freefolk
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Freefolk: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
Planning an event in Freefolk?
How our tapas catering works in Freefolk
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. For tapas before paella and engagement parties, we can cook patatas bravas, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo for your guests.
Near Freefolk, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Places near Freefolk
More for events in Freefolk
Why choose live paella in Freefolk?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why us?
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Common questions in Freefolk
Which station should guests use for Freefolk?
Whitchurch (Hampshire) station, about 1.4 miles west of the centre.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mary the Virgin: 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.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Should we have more than one paella?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Freefolk? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, it is light in Freefolk until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Freefolk: venues and local tips
Freefolk is about 8 miles east of Andover, in Hampshire. For tapas catering in Freefolk, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Freefolk to Reading (about 20 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Whitchurch (Hampshire) station, about 1.4 miles west.
This part of Hampshire takes in RG28, so your event can be anywhere in it. From London Road and Priory Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Wells-in-the-Field (1 mile west), Whitchurch (1 mile west), Cole Henley (2 miles north-west), Firgo (3 miles south-west) and Hurstbourne Priors (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Basingstoke (9 miles east), Winchester (12 miles south), Andover (8 miles west), Tadley (11 miles north-east), Hook (15 miles east) and Hyde (12 miles south).
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in Freefolk? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Add sangria or cava
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Sangria and bar staff.
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space to finish hot dishes
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Freefolk
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- 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