Southampton · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hillyfields, Southampton
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Hillyfields and across Southampton.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Launches and office parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
Tapas catering for Hillyfields events
Questions from Hillyfields
Can you cater a reception after a service at All Saints?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which station should guests use for Hillyfields?
Redbridge station, about 1.1 miles south of the centre.
Do we need staff for canapés?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
How long do you need on site?
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.
About our tapas catering in Hillyfields
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include work receptions and tapas with a paella main course, with croquetas, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española.
Around Hillyfields, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Where
- Hillyfields (SO16)
- Region
- Southampton
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Permission from the venue
- Room for a tapas table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
For event organisers in Hillyfields
Organising a club, school or community event in Hillyfields? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
What affects the price in Hillyfields
These are the factors that matter most:
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- Where the event is
Planning tapas catering in Hillyfields? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Hillyfields
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Drinks receptions around Hillyfields
Hillyfields is about 2 miles north-west of Regents Park, in Southampton. From the centre of Hillyfields to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in all 40 towns and villages across Southampton.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like All Saints. For guests coming by train, Redbridge station is about 1.1 miles away. The New Forest National Park is within about 7 miles of Hillyfields, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 4 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of Southampton takes in SO16. That could mean an event in a garden on Maplin Road, Colne Avenue and Hayburn Road or the roads around them. Hillyfields is on the M271, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Close by, we cover events in Nursling (1 mile north), Maybush (1 mile south-east), Upton (1 mile north), Rownhams (1 mile north-east) and Coxford (1 mile east). Further out, we also cater in Southampton (3 miles east), Townhill Park (5 miles east), Midanbury (5 miles east), Thornhill (6 miles east), Chartwell Green (5 miles east) and Harefield (6 miles east).
A little further out are Marlands Shopping Centre (3.4 miles south-east) and Eling Experience (1.4 miles south-west). The countryside around Hillyfields includes Testwood Lakes.
- Schools near Hillyfields include Oasis Academy Lord's Hill (0.6 miles north-east) and Millbrook Community School (0.6 miles east)
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it is light in Hillyfields until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
What else we do in Hillyfields
- 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