Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Lower Pennington
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Lower Pennington. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
Planning an event in Lower Pennington?
Tapas catering for your event in Lower Pennington
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. Typical bookings include sharing tapas starters and engagement parties, serving padrón peppers, Serrano ham and croquetas.
Near Lower Pennington, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Working with your venue
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
What tapas catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Waiting and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Events we cater in Lower Pennington
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Engagement parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Anniversary parties
Historic buildings near Lower Pennington frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What your quote should include
- Staff numbers and hours
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Who provides the crockery
- Space, access and power needs
Lower Pennington: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of All Saints?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook near the sea around Lower Pennington?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cover Lower Pennington?
We do. Lower Pennington is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue so they’re served at their best.
Nearby places to Lower Pennington
What else we do in Lower Pennington
Receptions and parties in Lower Pennington
Lower Pennington is about 1 mile south of Lymington, in Hampshire. For an event in Lower Pennington, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire. We cook right across the region, from Lower Pennington to Southampton (about 14 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Lymington Pier station, about 1.6 miles north-east. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Lower Pennington is within about 6 miles of the New Forest National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about a mile, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
For tapas catering in SO41, we plan around your venue and timings. Nearby, we also cater events in Pennington (1 mile north), Lymington (1 mile north), Lymore (1 mile west), Keyhaven (1 mile south-west) and Walhampton (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Totton (13 miles north), Hythe (11 miles north-east), New Milton (5 miles west), Ringwood (12 miles north-west), Locks Heath (15 miles north-east) and Warsash (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (1.4 miles north) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (2 miles north). Open spaces near Lower Pennington include Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Lower Pennington include Pennington Infant School (1.1 miles north)
- Nearby, you’ll find Chequers Inn (under half a mile north-east)
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
The process
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening receptions in Lower Pennington stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- 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
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Space for a serving table or station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Lower Pennington
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
Is live paella right for your event?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Catering across Hampshire, including Lower Pennington
- 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