Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for South Harting events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in South Harting: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Anniversary parties
Planning an event in South Harting?
Tapas catering in South Harting, made fresh on the day
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings. Popular choices include patatas bravas, croquetas and tortilla española, and we are frequently booked for sharing tapas starters and anniversary parties.
Near South Harting, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
Drinks receptions around South Harting
South Harting is about 3 miles south-east of Petersfield, in Hampshire. For an event in South Harting, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. South Harting is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 23 miles away.
Historic houses near South Harting include Uppark (1.2 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Guests travelling by rail: Petersfield station is about 3.7 miles away. South Harting is within about a mile of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in GU31, we can cook for your guests. Local streets include The Square, Smithfield and Mill Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in East Harting (1 mile east), Nyewood (2 miles north-east), Elsted (2 miles east), Compton (3 miles south) and Dumpford (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Havant (9 miles south-west), Horndean (7 miles south-west), Alton (13 miles north), Waterlooville (9 miles south-west), Petersfield (3 miles north-west) and Purbrook (10 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Bear Museum (3.3 miles north-west) and Petersfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north-west). Open spaces near South Harting include Iping and Stedham Commons and Oakham Hill.
- Local pubs include The Ship Inn (within half a mile west)
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Collect dietary needs
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Staff to serve canapés.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Parking near the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
How it works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. A summer drinks reception in South Harting has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Give us a contact for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Read more
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Whether you need crockery
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Timings and hours
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Expected numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- Your date and when you want to eat
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in South Harting
- Catering across Hampshire, including South Harting
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Perfect for your event in South Harting
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in South Harting book us for events such as:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Launches and office parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of St Mary & St Gabriel, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before booking anyone
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Towns and villages near South Harting
More for events in South Harting
Common questions in South Harting
Do you come out to small places like South Harting?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is South Harting close to London?
About 50 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you do sangria?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Do you provide serving staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
- 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