Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for Southwood events
Planning tapas catering in Southwood? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Launches and office parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering for Southwood events
About our tapas catering in Southwood
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Typical bookings include evening sharing boards and engagement celebrations, serving Manchego with membrillo, padrón peppers and albóndigas.
In Southwood, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Staff to serve canapés.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Evening receptions in Southwood stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Give us a contact for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
FAQs for Southwood
Could we have live paella in Ancells Farm Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
How far is Southwood from London?
About 34 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is normally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
What about pudding?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
What affects the price in Southwood
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Timings and hours
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Where the event is
- A picture of where we’d cook
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why Southwood hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- We cover Southwood and the whole of Hampshire
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
Nearby places to Southwood
What else we do in Southwood
Tapas for events in Southwood
Southwood is about 1 mile west of Farnborough, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Southwood will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 10 miles away.
Parks such as Ancells Farm Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St John the Baptist.
This part of Hampshire takes in GU14 and GU51, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Fleet Road, Kennels Lane and Summit Avenue, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Southwood for tapas catering include Cove (1 mile north), Farnborough (1 mile east), North Camp (2 miles east), Mytchett (3 miles east) and Aldershot (3 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Basingstoke (13 miles west), Alton (12 miles south-west), Yateley (4 miles north-west), Bordon (13 miles south), Hook (7 miles west) and Popley (12 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Hart Shopping Centre (2.1 miles west) and Royal Army Dental Corps Historical Museum (2.6 miles south-east). Not far away are Aunt's Pool and Ball Hill.
- Local schools include Cove School (1 mile north-east)
- Local facilities include National Aerospace Library (1.7 miles east)
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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.
Perfect for your event in Southwood
Big or small, tapas work.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Southwood book us for occasions like:
- Tapas starters
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Welcome-drink canapés
If you are looking at a historic venue around Southwood, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- The wet-weather plan
- How late numbers can change
- Travel and parking costs
- If the price includes VAT
- 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