Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Lower Swanwick, Hampshire
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Lower Swanwick: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Anniversary parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Planning an event in Lower Swanwick?
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and usually vegetarian.
Tapas catering in Lower Swanwick, cooked live
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. For tapas before paella and sharing tapas starters, we can cook albóndigas, croquetas and tortilla española for your guests.
For a country party near Lower Swanwick, tapas and sangria set the mood. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Permission from the venue
- Unloading access
- Space to finish hot dishes
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Lower Swanwick
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Common questions in Lower Swanwick
What’s the nearest station to Lower Swanwick for guests?
Lower Swanwick has its own station: Bursledon station.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Leonard?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you cover Lower Swanwick?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Lower Swanwick. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Absolutely.
Other catering in Lower Swanwick
Drinks receptions around Lower Swanwick
Lower Swanwick is about 2 miles west of Whiteley, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Lower Swanwick, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire.
Historic buildings near Lower Swanwick often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. For guests coming by train, Bursledon station is in Lower Swanwick itself. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cook at events all over SO31 and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Green Lane, Bridge Road and Station Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Swanwick (1 mile south-east), Sarisbury (1 mile south-east), Sarisbury Green (1 mile south), Park Gate (2 miles south-east) and Burridge (2 miles east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (12 miles north), Gosport (8 miles south-east), Havant (14 miles east), Eastleigh (6 miles north), Fareham (5 miles south-east) and Horndean (13 miles east).
A little further out are St Andrew's Castle (2.4 miles south) and Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum (less than half a mile north-east). Open spaces near Lower Swanwick include Swanwick Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Brookfield Community School and Language College (1.5 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Old Ship Inn (within half a mile south)
The process
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. At midsummer, it is light in Lower Swanwick until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Send 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or SO31 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Who books tapas catering in Lower Swanwick?
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Lower Swanwick book us for occasions like:
- Anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Evening grazing
- Table tapas as a starter
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Leonard, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- How bad weather is handled
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The deadline for final numbers
Is live paella right for your event?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- We cover Lower Swanwick and the whole of Hampshire
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Bar staff and sangria.
- 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