Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for Rockbourne events
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 Rockbourne.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas before paella
Tapas catering in Rockbourne
Tapas catering in Rockbourne, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. For sharing tapas starters and work receptions, we can cook gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and tortilla española.
In a rural spot like Rockbourne, 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.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Unloading access
- An area to prepare hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
More for events in Rockbourne
Rockbourne: venues and local tips
Rockbourne is in Hampshire. Across the SP6 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire. Our events stretch from Rockbourne to Southampton (about 20 miles away).
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Rockbourne, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Andrew.
Tapas catering in SP6 is planned around your venue and timings. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Whitsbury (1 mile north-east), Damerham (2 miles south), Sandleheath (2 miles south), Ashford (3 miles south-east) and Alderholt (4 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Totton (15 miles east), Ringwood (9 miles south), Fordingbridge (3 miles south-east), St Leonards (9 miles south), Brockenhurst (15 miles south-east) and Poulner (8 miles south).
A little further out are Fordingbridge Museum (3.3 miles south-east) and Godshill Castle Hill (3.5 miles south-east).
- Nearby, you’ll find The Cart Wheel Public House (0.9 miles east)
What tapas catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many guests are eating
- Waiting and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why Rockbourne hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Events we cater in Rockbourne
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas and paella menus
- Cocktail parties
Nearby historic houses include Breamore House (2.4 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Comparing caterers
- Staff numbers and hours
- Payment terms and deposit
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Should I cook it myself?
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Common questions in Rockbourne
Do you come out to small places like Rockbourne?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Andrew?
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.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
The process
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell normally draws people over. A summer drinks reception in Rockbourne has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:05pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Give us a contact for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
- 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