Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Hensting
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hensting and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Tapas before paella
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Tapas catering in Hensting
Tapas catering in Hensting, made fresh on the day
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. Popular choices include padrón peppers, albóndigas and Serrano ham, and we are often booked for canapés with welcome drinks and receptions and drinks parties.
In a rural spot like Hensting, 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 as soon as it’s ready.
Questions from Hensting
Is Hensting too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Hensting close to London?
About 62 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Is halal food available?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do you provide serving staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to serve.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Paella compared with other options
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Hensting hosts choose us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Events in Hensting and across Hampshire
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Venue approval for outside catering
- A spot for our serving station
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
Who books tapas catering in Hensting?
They make a perfect starter before paella.
In Hensting and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Office parties and launches
- Table tapas as a starter
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday drinks
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Hensting, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Questions to ask before booking
- The wet-weather plan
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The deposit and payment dates
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. A summer drinks reception in Hensting has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Planning help
Receptions and parties in Hensting
Hensting is about 3 miles north-east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the SO50 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Hensting is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. Our events stretch from Hensting to Southampton (7 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: Shawford station is about 2.2 miles away. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of the Holy Trinity, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO50, so your event can be anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater events in Owslebury (1 mile north-east), Owslebury Bottom (1 mile north-east), Baybridge (2 miles east), Morestead (2 miles north) and Lane End (4 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (4 miles north), Gosport (15 miles south-east), Eastleigh (3 miles south-west), Fareham (11 miles south), Horndean (14 miles south-east) and Totton (11 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find St John's Rooms And Chapel (4.3 miles north) and Eastleigh Museum (3.5 miles south-west). Not far away are Shawford Down and Twyford Down.
- Pubs nearby include Ship Inn (1 mile north-east)
About the dishes
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
For planners, venues and organisers
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
More for events in Hensting
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Serving boards and crockery.
- 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