Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for Hartley Mauditt events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Hartley Mauditt. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
Tapas catering near Hartley Mauditt
About our tapas catering in Hartley Mauditt
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Whether it is tapas and paella menus and evening sharing boards, we’ll put together a menu of padrón peppers, albóndigas and gambas al ajillo.
In a rural spot like Hartley Mauditt, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
For event organisers in Hartley Mauditt
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’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Questions from Hartley Mauditt
What’s the nearest station to Hartley Mauditt for guests?
The closest is Alton station, roughly 2.5 miles away.
How far is Hartley Mauditt from London?
About 45 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Unloading access
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Whether you need crockery
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Where the event is
- Expected numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
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.
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. A summer drinks reception in Hartley Mauditt has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Planning a tapas spread in Hartley Mauditt
Hartley Mauditt is about 3 miles south-east of Alton, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Hartley Mauditt will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Hartley Mauditt is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 18 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Alton station is about 2.5 miles away. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Leonard's Church.
We cover events in every part of GU34. For events just outside Hartley Mauditt, we cover East Worldham (1 mile north), Oakhanger (2 miles east), Upper Farringdon (2 miles west), Farringdon (2 miles west) and Chawton (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (12 miles north-west), Farnborough (14 miles north-east), Fleet (12 miles north-east), Horndean (15 miles south), Aldershot (12 miles north-east) and Alton (3 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Alton Community Hospital (2.5 miles north-west) and The Romany Museum (1.6 miles south). The countryside around Hartley Mauditt includes Selborne Hill and Deadwater Valley.
Places near Hartley Mauditt
Other catering in Hartley Mauditt
Events we cater in Hartley Mauditt
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement parties
Historic buildings near Hartley Mauditt frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- The wet-weather plan
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- If the price includes VAT
- 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