Southampton · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Shirley, Southampton
Planning tapas catering in Shirley? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering in Shirley
Who books tapas catering in Shirley?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement drinks
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Shirley Parish Church.
Questions to ask before booking
- When final numbers are due
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How long the team stays
- How each diet is kept separate
Tapas catering in Shirley, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. For drinks reception canapés and cocktail parties, we can cook gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and Serrano ham.
In Shirley, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
- Location
- Shirley (SO15, SO16, SO17)
- Area hub
- Southampton
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
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. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Shirley questions
Can you cook near the sea around Shirley?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
Why choose live paella in Shirley?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Catering across Southampton, including Shirley
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evening receptions in Shirley 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.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
Also near Shirley
Other catering in Shirley
Tapas for events in Shirley
Shirley is about 2 miles west of Southampton, in Southampton. For tapas catering in Shirley, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in 40 places across Southampton.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Millbrook (Hants) station, about 0.7 miles south. A picnic in St James' Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Shirley is within about 8 miles of the New Forest National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cater events across the SO15, SO16 and SO17 postcode area. Whether your event is on May Road, Dyer Road and York Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Shirley sits on or near the A3057, which makes travel to your event easy. Close by, we cover events in Regents Park (1 mile west), Freemantle (1 mile south), Millbrook (1 mile south-west), Coxford (1 mile north-west) and Maybush (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Townhill Park (3 miles east), Midanbury (3 miles east), Thornhill (4 miles east), Chartwell Green (4 miles east), Harefield (4 miles east) and Itchen (3 miles south-east). As one of the bigger places in Southampton, Shirley has lots of places to hold an event.
Nearby you’ll also find Netley Castle (4.4 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (1 mile south-east). The countryside around Shirley includes Testwood Lakes.
- Schools near Shirley include Regents Park Community College (within half a mile west) and Millbrook Community School (1.3 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Crown Public House (under half a mile north-west)
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Collect dietary needs
Each dish is labelled.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Organising for someone else?
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.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many staff you need
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The venue or postcode
- The date and rough timings
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
- 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