Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Ringwood
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Ringwood.
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas and paella menus
Tapas catering in Ringwood
About our tapas catering in Ringwood
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings in and around Ringwood. For cocktail parties and tapas before paella, we will put together a menu of Serrano ham, croquetas and gambas al ajillo and more.
Around Ringwood, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Places near Ringwood
More for events in Ringwood
Planning a tapas spread in Ringwood
Ringwood is in Hampshire. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Ringwood and nearby villages. We cover 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 18 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Trinity Congregational Church. A picnic in Avon Heath Country Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. The New Forest National Park is within about 4 miles of Ringwood, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over BH24 and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Addison Square, High Street and Market Place or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Ringwood is on the A31 and A338, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Close by, we cover events in Poulner (1 mile north-east), Hightown (1 mile south-east), Upper Kingston (1 mile south), Blashford (1 mile north) and Crow (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Totton (13 miles east), Lymington (12 miles south-east), New Milton (8 miles south-east), Barton on Sea (9 miles south-east), Marchwood (15 miles east) and Ashley (8 miles south-east).
A little further out are St Leonard's Hospital (3.9 miles south-west). Open spaces near Ringwood include Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
- Nearby schools include Ringwood Church of England Infant School (under half a mile south-west) and Ringwood Waldorf School (1.3 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Lamb Inn (less than half a mile south-west)
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Evening receptions in Ringwood stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Read more
Planners, venues and businesses
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Fast service from the pan
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. 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.
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.
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Include staff for canapés
- Label seafood clearly
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Bar staff and sangria.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- The number of people
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of where we’d cook
Planning tapas catering in Ringwood? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Occasions we cook for in Ringwood
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Ringwood:
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas before paella
- Sharing tapas starters
- Launches and office parties
Historic houses near Ringwood include Avon Tyrrell House (3.6 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Questions to ask before booking
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Staff numbers and hours
- When final numbers are due
Ringwood questions
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Could we have live paella in Avon Heath Country Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
- 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