Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Southend, Hampshire
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 Southend.
- Birthday drinks
- Cocktail parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Tapas catering for Southend events
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
About our tapas catering in Southend
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. Whether it is anniversary parties and tapas starters, we will put together a menu of croquetas, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española and more.
Near Southend, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Perfect for your event in Southend
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Evening grazing
- Work receptions
- Cocktail parties
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of the Holy Trinity, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before booking anyone
- How long the team stays
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
Also near Southend
More for events in Southend
Where we can cook in Southend
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Parking near the venue
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
Organising for someone else?
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
The process
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Sunset in Southend is around 9:20pm in 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.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Southend? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Related guides
Tapas for events in Southend
Southend is about 5 miles north-west of Waterlooville, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Southend or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover 683 places in Hampshire. Our events stretch from Southend to Southampton (about 12 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Portchester station is about 5 miles away.
Here we cover the SO32 postcode area. Nearby, we also cater events in Newtown (1 mile south-west), Soberton Heath (1 mile west), Hoe Gate (1 mile south-east), Woodend (1 mile west) and Hipley (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Winchester (13 miles north-west), Gosport (8 miles south), Havant (7 miles south-east), Eastleigh (10 miles west), Fareham (6 miles south-west) and Horndean (5 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Knowle Hospital (4.4 miles south-west). Not far away are St Clair's Meadow and Portsdown Hill.
- Nearby, you will find The Bold Forester Public House (0.8 miles north-west)
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
- How many staff you need
- Timings and hours
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Any dietary needs and allergies
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Southend questions
Which station should guests use for Southend?
Portchester station, about 5 miles south of the centre.
Is Southend too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you cover Southend?
We do. We cook at events in Southend and across Hampshire. Send us your date to check availability.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Canapés need staff to serve
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
- 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