Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Setley, Hampshire
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Setley.
- Engagement drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
- Birthday drinks
Planning an event in Setley?
Your questions about tapas catering in Setley
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 work to whatever the site needs.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, including Hampshire. Find your area.
How much paella per person?
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 cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Tapas catering for your event in Setley
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. Popular choices include patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and Serrano ham, and we are often booked for receptions and drinks parties and welcome-drink canapés.
Near Setley, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Each dish is labelled.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Towns and villages near Setley
Other catering in Setley
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Venue approval for outside catering
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
Why choose live paella in Setley?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
How we price tapas catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The number of people
- Travel, parking and access
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How long we’re needed on site
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Why choose tapas catering in Setley?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Evening grazing
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Nicholas, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before booking anyone
- Who provides the crockery
- What the price includes, item by item
- How each diet is kept separate
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and normally vegetarian.
Tapas for events in Setley
Setley is about 4 miles north of Lymington, in Hampshire. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Setley. Setley is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 11 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Setley, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Guests travelling by rail: Brockenhurst station is about 0.6 miles away. The New Forest National Park is within about a mile of Setley, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about 5 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Tapas catering in SO42 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on Tilebarn Lane and Lymington Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Setley, we also cover Brockenhurst (1 mile north), South Weirs (1 mile west), Balmerlawn (1 mile north), Lyndhurst (5 miles north) and Emery Down (5 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Eastleigh (15 miles north-east), Totton (8 miles north), Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-east), Hedge End (14 miles north-east), Lymington (4 miles south) and Romsey (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (3.6 miles south) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (2.9 miles south-east).
- Nearby, you’ll find Foresters Arms (0.7 miles north)
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. At midsummer, it’s light in Setley until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through 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