Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Shalden, Hampshire
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Shalden.
- Birthday drinks
- Evening grazing
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering for Shalden events
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Canapés need staff to serve
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Tapas catering in Shalden, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Whether it is tapas starters and office parties and launches, we can cook albóndigas, tortilla española and gambas al ajillo for your guests.
For a country party near Shalden, tapas and sangria set the mood. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Common questions in Shalden
Do you come out to small places like Shalden?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Shalden close to London?
About 45 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- We cover Shalden and the whole of Hampshire
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Whether you need crockery
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The paellas you choose
- Guest numbers
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Where the event is
- What the venue already provides
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The courses you’d like
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evening receptions in Shalden stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Read more
What else we do in Shalden
Events we cater in Shalden
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
- Evening grazing
- Cocktail parties
Historic buildings near Shalden frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Before you book anyone
- How bad weather is handled
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How long the team stays
Planning a tapas spread in Shalden
Shalden is about 2 miles north-west of Alton, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the GU34 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cover 683 places in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 19 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Alton station is about 2.1 miles away. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Peter and St Paul.
For tapas catering in GU34, we plan around your venue and your guests. We can cater an event on streets such as Southwood Road, Stancombe Lane and Shalden Lane or the roads around them. We also cook at events in Shalden Green (1 mile north), Thedden (2 miles south-west), Beech (2 miles south), Bentworth (2 miles south-west) and Southrope (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Basingstoke (8 miles north-west), Farnborough (13 miles north-east), Fleet (10 miles north-east), Aldershot (12 miles north-east), Petersfield (12 miles south) and Yateley (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Gliding Heritage Centre (1.3 miles north-west) and Alton Community Hospital (2.3 miles south). The countryside around Shalden includes Holybourne Hill.
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Space on each table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- 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