Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for Great Shoddesden events
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Great Shoddesden and Hampshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Evening grazing
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Table tapas as a starter
Tapas catering in Great Shoddesden
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Tapas catering in Great Shoddesden, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. Popular choices include gambas al ajillo, albóndigas and Manchego with membrillo, and we are often booked for evening grazing and cocktail parties.
In a rural spot like Great Shoddesden, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Label seafood clearly
Each dish is labelled.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Great Shoddesden questions
What’s the nearest station to Great Shoddesden for guests?
The closest is Grateley station, roughly 4.9 miles away.
How far is Great Shoddesden from London?
Roughly 68 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, 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.
What you get with us
- Events in Great Shoddesden and across Hampshire
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- No hidden extras in your quote
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Evening receptions in Great Shoddesden stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Planning help
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Timings and hours
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Expected numbers
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Which courses you have in mind
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Towns and villages near Great Shoddesden
Other catering in Great Shoddesden
Tapas for events in Great Shoddesden
Great Shoddesden is about 6 miles west of Andover, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Great Shoddesden will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Great Shoddesden is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. Our events stretch from Great Shoddesden to Southampton (about 24 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: Grateley station is about 4.9 miles away.
For tapas catering in SP11, we plan around your venue. If your venue is just outside Great Shoddesden, we also cover Perham Down (1 mile west), Ludgershall (1 mile north-west), Kimpton (1 mile south) and Tidworth (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Andover (6 miles east), Whitchurch (12 miles east), East Anton (6 miles east), Overton (15 miles east), Picket Piece (7 miles east) and Picket Twenty (7 miles east).
A little further out are Ludgershall Castle (1.4 miles north-west) and Andover War Memorial Hospital (5.2 miles east). The countryside around Great Shoddesden includes Quarley Hill.
- Local schools include The Wellington Academy (2.4 miles west)
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Unloading access
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Great Shoddesden
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
Perfect for your event in Great Shoddesden
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Office parties and launches
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas before paella
Historic buildings near Great Shoddesden frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Comparing caterers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The deadline for final numbers
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Staff numbers and hours
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
- 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