Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Itchen Abbas, Hampshire
Planning tapas catering in Itchen Abbas? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas with a paella main course
Live tapas catering in Itchen Abbas
About our tapas catering in Itchen Abbas
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. We’re often asked to cater canapés with welcome drinks and drinks parties and receptions, serving patatas bravas, Manchego with membrillo and padrón peppers.
Near Itchen Abbas, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Should I cook it myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Step by step
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s served at its best. Evening receptions in Itchen Abbas stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Tell us when you want to eat
Ask for a quote
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.
Related guides
Towns and villages near Itchen Abbas
More for events in Itchen Abbas
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Make sure dishes are labelled
Afterwards, we clear away.
Add a live paella main.
Planning a tapas spread in Itchen Abbas
Itchen Abbas is about 4 miles north-east of Winchester, in Hampshire. From the centre of Itchen Abbas to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 14 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Winchester station, about 4.2 miles south-west. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St John the Baptist.
We cook at events all over the SO21 postcode area and the streets around it. From Little Hayes Lane, Northington Road and Station Hill or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Itchen Abbas, we also cover Martyr Worthy (1 mile west), Itchen Stoke (1 mile east), Ovington (2 miles south-east), Easton (2 miles west) and Temple Valley (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Basingstoke (13 miles north-east), Winchester (4 miles south-west), Eastleigh (10 miles south-west), Andover (13 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (10 miles south-west) and Alton (12 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find St John's Rooms And Chapel (3.9 miles south-west) and Wolvesey Castle (4.1 miles south-west). The countryside around Itchen Abbas includes Winnall Moors and Twyford Down.
- Local pubs include The Plough pub (under half a mile south-west)
Occasions we cook for in Itchen Abbas
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Itchen Abbas book us for events such as:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
Historic buildings near Itchen Abbas often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Questions to ask before booking
- How long the team stays
- A clear list of what’s included
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Space, access and power needs
Why choose live paella in Itchen Abbas?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Catering across Hampshire, including Itchen Abbas
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
See How we price And The cost guide.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space to finish hot dishes
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Itchen Abbas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Common questions in Itchen Abbas
Is Itchen Abbas 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.
Which station should guests use for Itchen Abbas?
The closest is Winchester station, roughly 4.2 miles away.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, Hampshire included. Find your area.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Should we have more than one paella?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
- 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