Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in St Ives
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in St Ives: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement parties
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering in St Ives
Tapas catering in St Ives, cooked live
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Lots of events do both. We cook padrón peppers, patatas bravas and albóndigas, and we are regularly asked to cater evening grazing and tapas starters.
Near St Ives, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Tapas for events in St Ives
St Ives is in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in St Ives, and we will plan the journey and set-up. St Ives is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from St Ives to Southampton (about 20 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Avon Tyrrell House (4.5 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like All Saints. St Ives is within about 6 miles of the New Forest National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Hampshire takes in BH24. Your event could be at a home on Compton Beeches, Post Office Lane and Azalea Close. Nearby, we also cater events in Ashley Heath (1 mile west), Avon Castle (1 mile south-east), St Leonards (1 mile south-west) and Matchams (1 mile south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Totton (15 miles east), Lymington (13 miles south-east), New Milton (9 miles south-east), Barton on Sea (10 miles south-east), Ashley (10 miles south-east) and Milford on Sea (13 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include St Leonard's Hospital (1.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near St Ives include Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
- Schools near St Ives include Ringwood Waldorf School (0.9 miles north-east) and Ringwood School (2 miles north-east)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Add sangria or cava
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label seafood clearly
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Occasions we cook for in St Ives
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Whatever you are celebrating in St Ives, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Launches and office parties
Parks such as Avon Heath Country Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Questions to ask before booking
- The wet-weather plan
- What the price includes, item by item
- The deadline for final numbers
- When payment is due
Also near St Ives
Other catering in St Ives
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Before you choose a spot
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
Common questions in St Ives
Is St Ives too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Could we have live paella in Avon Heath Country Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
What does tapas catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
Do you cater in St Ives?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including St Ives and the rest of Hampshire. For a quote, use our quote form.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many guests are eating
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Waiting and bar staff
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything your venue supplies
- Which courses you have in mind
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
The process
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Evening receptions in St Ives stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and generally vegetarian.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
- 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