Southampton · England
Tapas Catering for Freemantle events
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Freemantle.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Engagement celebrations
- Receptions and drinks parties
Tapas catering in Freemantle
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Label seafood clearly
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Check diets in advance
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Serving boards and crockery.
About our tapas catering in Freemantle
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; for seated meals, table tapas. Many events have both. Typical bookings include welcome-drink canapés and receptions and drinks parties, serving padrón peppers, tortilla española and Serrano ham.
For a party in a place like Freemantle, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Location
- Freemantle (SO15, SO16, SO17)
- County
- Southampton
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Places near Freemantle
More for events in Freemantle
How we price tapas catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Waiting and bar staff
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and time of the event
- Roughly how many adults and children
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planners, venues and businesses
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Tapas for events in Freemantle
Freemantle is about 1 mile west of Southampton, in Southampton. Wherever your event is in the SO15 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 40 towns and villages in Southampton.
After a ceremony at a church such as Christ Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Guests travelling by rail: Millbrook (Hants) station is in Freemantle itself. Freemantle is within about 7 miles of the New Forest National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Anywhere in SO15, SO16 and SO17, we can cook for your guests. That could mean an event in a garden on May Road, Park Road and Pitt Road. Being close to the A33, Freemantle is easy for us to reach. If your venue is just outside Freemantle, we also cover Shirley (1 mile north), Regents Park (1 mile north-west), Millbrook (1 mile west), Maybush (2 miles north-west) and Coxford (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Townhill Park (3 miles north-east), Midanbury (3 miles east), Thornhill (4 miles east), Chartwell Green (4 miles east), Harefield (4 miles east) and Itchen (3 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Western Community Hospital (1.3 miles north-west) and Foresters Museum & Archive (under half a mile east). Green spaces nearby include Testwood Lakes.
- Nearby schools include St Anne's Catholic School (0.9 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Brass Monkey pub (0.5 miles north)
How it works
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. A summer drinks reception in Freemantle 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.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Perfect for your event in Freemantle
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Freemantle, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing tapas starters
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Birthday drinks
Nearby historic houses include Southampton Tudor House and Garden (1.2 miles south-east) and Medieval Merchant's House (1.3 miles south-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before you book anyone
- How long the team stays
- How bad weather is handled
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Payment terms and deposit
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Why choose live paella in Freemantle?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Freemantle hosts choose us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Fast service from the pan
- Catering across Southampton, including Freemantle
- No hidden extras in your quote
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space for a serving table or station
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
Common questions in Freemantle
Could we have live paella in Blechynden Terrace Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Should we have more than one paella?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
- 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