Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Horndean
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Horndean: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Launches and office parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Book tapas catering in Horndean
Common questions in Horndean
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
We’re having a ceremony at Saint Wilfrid's: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Tapas catering in Horndean, cooked live
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. We’re frequently asked to cater drinks reception canapés and birthday and anniversary parties, with Serrano ham, patatas bravas and tortilla española.
For celebrations in Horndean, tapas before a paella make a full meal. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Drinks receptions around Horndean
Horndean is about 7 miles north-east of Portsmouth, in Hampshire. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Horndean and nearby villages. Horndean is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Horndean to Southampton (17 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Rowlands Castle station, about 2.6 miles south-east. Nearby historic houses include Warblington Castle (4.8 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Horndean is within about 8 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
This part of Hampshire takes in PO8 and PO7, so your event can be anywhere in it. From London Road, Kings Mede and Causeway Farm or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Main roads around Horndean include the A3 and A3(M), which makes travel to your event easy. Nearby, we also cater events in Lovedean (1 mile west), Wecock Farm (1 mile south-west), Catherington (2 miles north), Anmore (2 miles west) and Denmead (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gosport (9 miles south-west), Havant (3 miles south), Eastleigh (15 miles west), Fareham (9 miles south-west), Hedge End (13 miles west) and Petersfield (7 miles north-east). As one of the bigger places in Hampshire, Horndean has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Well-known places in the area include Havant War Memorial Hospital (3.8 miles south) and Clanfield Earthwork (3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Horndean include Windmill Hill and Southmoor Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Horndean Infant School (0.5 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include Red Lion Inn (0.7 miles north-east)
Is live paella right for your event?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A quote that spells everything out
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Tell us what role tapas play
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Waiting staff for canapés.
DIY paella versus live catering
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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Perfect for your event in Horndean
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Horndean, people book us for events such as:
- Tapas and paella menus
- Launches and office parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Saint Wilfrid's.
Before booking anyone
- Space, access and power needs
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The deadline for final numbers
- Payment terms and deposit
Towns and villages near Horndean
Also in Horndean
What happens on the day
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Sunset in Horndean is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
What affects the price in Horndean
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- How many staff you need
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Permission from the venue
- Room for a tapas table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- 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