Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Sandy Balls, Hampshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Sandy Balls.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Table tapas as a starter
- Birthday drinks
Tapas catering for Sandy Balls events
Why choose tapas catering in Sandy Balls?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Giles.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether travel is included
- What happens if it rains
Tapas catering for your event in Sandy Balls
Sangria and bar staff can be added, for a complete drinks and tapas package. For tapas starters and evening grazing, we’ll put together a menu of croquetas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo.
Near Sandy Balls, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
The process
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. A summer drinks reception in Sandy Balls 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 4:05pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Drinks receptions around Sandy Balls
Sandy Balls is in Hampshire. For tapas catering in Sandy Balls, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Sandy Balls to Southampton (16 miles away).
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Sandy Balls, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Historic houses near Sandy Balls include Breamore House (2.9 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. The New Forest National Park is within about 8 miles of Sandy Balls, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Tapas catering in SP6 is planned around your venue and timings. Whether your event is on The Pines, River Road and Larch Row or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Godshill (1 mile north-east), Criddlestyle (1 mile south-west), Blissford (1 mile south), Stuckton (1 mile south-west) and Frogham (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Totton (11 miles east), Lymington (15 miles south-east), Romsey (13 miles east), New Milton (13 miles south), Ringwood (6 miles south) and Barton on Sea (14 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Fordingbridge Doll Museum (1.3 miles west) and Godshill Castle Hill (0.9 miles north). Open spaces near Sandy Balls include Linbrook Lake and Blashford Lakes.
- Local pubs include The Fighting Cocks pub (0.5 miles east)
Also in Sandy Balls
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Permission from the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
On the menu in Sandy Balls
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Staff to serve canapés.
What affects the price in Sandy Balls
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and rough timings
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Anything your venue supplies
Send us the date, your venue or SP6 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
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.
Common questions in Sandy Balls
Is Sandy Balls too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you cover Sandy Balls?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Sandy Balls and across Hampshire. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
- 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