Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Pilley Bailey
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Pilley Bailey and the surrounding area.
- Anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
- Welcome-drink canapés
Tapas catering for Pilley Bailey events
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Tapas catering for your event in Pilley Bailey
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. For work receptions and drinks reception canapés, we’ll put together a menu of tortilla española, albóndigas and gambas al ajillo for your guests.
Near Pilley Bailey, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many staff you need
- Distance and access to the venue
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Questions from Pilley Bailey
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you come out to small places like Pilley Bailey?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
More for events in Pilley Bailey
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and generally vegetarian.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Bar staff and sangria.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Parking near the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
Is live paella right for your event?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why Pilley Bailey hosts choose us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Real theatre, not just catering
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Tapas for events in Pilley Bailey
Pilley Bailey is about 2 miles north-east of Lymington, in Hampshire. From the centre of Pilley Bailey to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire. We cook right across the region, from Pilley Bailey to Southampton (about 11 miles away).
Historic houses near Pilley Bailey include Beaulieu Palace House (4 miles north-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Lymington Town station, about 1.9 miles south. The New Forest National Park is within about 4 miles of Pilley Bailey, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cover events in every part of SO41. We also cook at events in Bull Hill (1 mile south-east), Pilley (1 mile south-west), Portmore (1 mile south), Warborne (1 mile south-west) and Boldre (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Eastleigh (15 miles north-east), Fareham (15 miles east), Totton (9 miles north), Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-east), Hedge End (13 miles north-east) and Romsey (14 miles north).
A little further out are St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (2.1 miles south-west) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (1.5 miles south-west). The countryside around Pilley Bailey includes Boldre Foreshore.
- Schools near Pilley Bailey include Southlands School (1.1 miles south-west)
The process
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. A summer drinks reception in Pilley Bailey has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Related guides
- 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