Southampton · England
Tapas Catering for Highfield events
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Highfield.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday drinks
Planning an event in Highfield?
Tapas catering for your event in Highfield
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. On the menu are Serrano ham, croquetas and albóndigas, and we are frequently booked for tapas with a paella main course and birthday drinks.
Around Highfield, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Area
- Highfield (SO17, SO16, SO14)
- Region
- Southampton
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Perfect for your event in Highfield
Tapas get people talking.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Birthday drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas before paella
- Office parties and launches
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is St Denys station, about 0.8 miles south-east.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
- Who provides the crockery
- How long the team stays
Towns and villages near Highfield
What else we do in Highfield
Why choose live paella in Highfield?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Highfield
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Highfield questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What’s the nearest station to Highfield for guests?
The closest is St Denys station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Organising for someone else?
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Include staff for canapés
- Add sangria or cava
- Check diets in advance
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Sunset in Highfield is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Get a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What affects the price in Highfield
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- The length of service
- Travel, parking and access
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Parking near the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we offer
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
Tapas for events in Highfield
Highfield is about 1 mile north of Southampton, in Southampton. For tapas catering in Highfield, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Highfield is one of 40 towns and villages in Southampton we cover.
A picnic in Southampton Common? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Nearby historic houses include South Stoneham House (1.1 miles north-east) and Southampton Tudor House and Garden (2.1 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Wherever your event is in SO17, SO16 and SO14, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Winn Road, Nile Road and The Avenue or a nearby road, we can cook there. Main roads around Highfield include the A3035, which makes travel to your event easy. Close by, we cover events in Bassett (1 mile north-west), Shirley (2 miles west), Lordswood (2 miles north-west), Freemantle (2 miles south-west) and Coxford (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Thornhill (3 miles south-east), Harefield (3 miles east), Sholing (3 miles south-east), Woolston (3 miles south), Eling (4 miles west) and Rownhams (3 miles north-west).
A little further out are Royal South Hants Hospital (1.2 miles south) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.7 miles south). Not far away are Netley Common.
- Schools near Highfield include Richard Taunton Sixth Form College (0.8 miles west) and Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton (1.4 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Cowherds Inn (0.5 miles south-west)
- 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