Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for South Hayling events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in South Hayling.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
- Office parties and launches
Tapas catering near South Hayling
About our tapas catering in South Hayling
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. Typical bookings include cocktail parties and office parties and launches, serving croquetas, padrón peppers and tortilla española.
For a party in a place like South Hayling, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many guests are eating
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How long we’re needed on site
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of where we’d cook
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
FAQs for South Hayling
What’s the nearest station to South Hayling for guests?
The closest is Fratton station, roughly 4.3 miles away.
Is South Hayling close to London?
About 62 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How many paellas should we have?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Add sangria or cava
- Check diets in advance
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Crockery and serving dishes.
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Parking near the venue
- A spot for our serving station
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
Receptions and parties in South Hayling
South Hayling is about 5 miles east of Portsmouth, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of South Hayling or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from South Hayling to Southampton (20 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Warblington Castle (3.9 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Fratton station, about 4.3 miles west. With the sea within about a mile, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Anywhere in PO11, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Church Road, Station Road and St Leonard's Avenue or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Nearby, we also cater events in West Town (1 mile west), Tourner Bury (1 mile north-east), Tye (2 miles north), Stoke (2 miles north) and North Hayling (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Gosport (8 miles west), Havant (5 miles north), Fareham (11 miles north-west), Horndean (8 miles north), Waterlooville (7 miles north) and Petersfield (15 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include St James Hospital (3.3 miles west) and Eastney Beam Engine House (3.1 miles west). Open spaces near South Hayling include Hayling Billy.
- Nearby schools include The Hayling College (0.5 miles north) and The Hayling College (0.5 miles north)
- Nearby, you will find Newton House Hotel (0.6 miles north-west)
Organising for someone else?
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 will follow them.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. At midsummer, it’s light in South Hayling until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Related guides
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why choose Love Paella in South Hayling
- Events in South Hayling and across Hampshire
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Places near South Hayling
Also in South Hayling
Why choose tapas catering in South Hayling?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Work receptions
- Evening sharing boards
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Mary's Church.
Before you book anyone
- How long the team stays
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
- The wet-weather plan
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, frequently with ham or mushroom.
- 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