Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Lord's Wood, Hampshire
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Lord's Wood. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing tapas starters
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering near Lord's Wood
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Tapas catering in Lord's Wood, cooked live
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. We are frequently asked to cater cocktail parties and table tapas as a starter, serving croquetas, patatas bravas and Serrano ham.
In a rural spot like Lord's Wood, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Label seafood clearly
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Include staff for canapés
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Spanish desserts to finish.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The length of service
- Travel, parking and access
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Where the event is
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. Sunset in Lord's Wood is around 9:25pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Lord's Wood? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Places near Lord's Wood
What else we do in Lord's Wood
Paella compared with other options
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What you get with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
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.
Questions from Lord's Wood
Which station should guests use for Lord's Wood?
Eastleigh station, about 1.6 miles south-west of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Lord's Wood?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
Do you provide serving staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Can you cook indoors?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Planning a tapas spread in Lord's Wood
Lord's Wood is about 2 miles north-east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. Anywhere in SO50, we can bring the pans to you. Lord's Wood is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 6 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as St Mary's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic houses near Lord's Wood include South Stoneham House (4.1 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Anywhere in SO50, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Other places close to Lord's Wood for tapas catering include Highbridge (1 mile north-west), Brambridge (1 mile north-east), Colden Common (1 mile north-east), Nob's Crook (1 mile east) and Fisher's Pond (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (5 miles north), Gosport (15 miles south-east), Fareham (11 miles south-east), Horndean (15 miles east), Totton (9 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (3 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Eastleigh Museum (1.7 miles south-west) and Wolvesey Castle (5 miles north). The countryside around Lord's Wood includes Shawford Down and Twyford Down.
- Nearby schools include Crestwood Community School (1.5 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