Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in South Down, Hampshire
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in South Down and the surrounding area.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Evening sharing boards
- Work receptions
Tapas catering near South Down
Tapas catering in South Down, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. We’re frequently asked to cater tapas with a paella main course and launches and office parties, serving Serrano ham, albóndigas and padrón peppers.
In a rural spot like South Down, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Receptions and parties in South Down
South Down is about 3 miles north-east of Chandler's Ford, in Hampshire. From the centre of South Down to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 7 miles away.
Historic buildings near South Down often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Here we cover the SO21 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Cross Way, Fairfield Road and Grove Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Compton (1 mile north), Otterbourne (1 mile south-west), Shawford (1 mile north-east), Twyford (1 mile east) and Oliver's Battery (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (3 miles north), Eastleigh (3 miles south), Fareham (13 miles south-east), Andover (15 miles north-west), Totton (10 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (3 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Balfour Museum of Hampshire Red Cross History (2.9 miles north) and Wolvesey Castle (3.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Twyford Down and Shawford Down.
- Local schools include Thornden School (1.9 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Bridge Inn (0.6 miles north-east)
Also near South Down
Also in South Down
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Table tapas are set down to share.
Add a live paella main.
Why choose live paella in South Down?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Why South Down hosts choose us
- We cover South Down and the whole of Hampshire
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Perfect for your event in South Down
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks reception canapés
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Shawford station, about 0.6 miles north-east.
Comparing caterers
- Allergen information for each dish
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether VAT is included
- What happens if it rains
How the day works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it’s light in South Down until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Where we can cook in South Down
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Unloading access
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Venue approval for outside catering
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
For event organisers in South Down
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
South Down questions
How far is South Down from London?
Roughly 63 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
How much does tapas catering cost in South Down?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
- 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