Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for Swanmore events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Swanmore and the surrounding area.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
- Table tapas as a starter
Book tapas catering in Swanmore
How our tapas catering works in Swanmore
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. On the menu are gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and Serrano ham, and we’re regularly asked to cater table tapas as a starter and launches and office parties.
Tapas make a party in Swanmore easy and sociable. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space on each table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
Events we cater in Swanmore
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement drinks
- Evening sharing boards
- Office parties and launches
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Barnabas.
Comparing caterers
- What the price includes, item by item
- When final numbers are due
- If the price includes VAT
- The wet-weather plan
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Swanmore? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Questions from Swanmore
What’s the nearest station to Swanmore for guests?
Botley station, about 3.7 miles south-west of the centre.
Is Swanmore close to London?
Roughly 61 miles from the centre of London.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Tapas for events in Swanmore
Swanmore is about 6 miles east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Swanmore, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cook in 683 places in Hampshire. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 9 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Botley station is about 3.7 miles away. If you are looking at a historic venue around Swanmore, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Anywhere in SO32, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Church Road, Myers Close and Spring Vale; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Hill Grove (1 mile east), Upper Swanmore (1 mile north-east), Mislingford (1 mile south-east), Shirrell Heath (1 mile south) and Kingsmead (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (10 miles north-west), Gosport (10 miles south), Havant (10 miles south-east), Eastleigh (7 miles west), Fareham (6 miles south) and Horndean (8 miles east).
A little further out are Bishop's Waltham Museum (1.7 miles north-west) and Knowle Hospital (4.3 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Beacon Hill and Bishops Waltham Branch LNR.
- Local schools include Swanmore College of Technology (less than half a mile west)
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Evening receptions in Swanmore stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
How to get a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Towns and villages near Swanmore
Also in Swanmore
Paella compared with other options
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Swanmore hosts choose us
- Drinks service on request
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- We cover Swanmore and the whole of Hampshire
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Travel, parking and access
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Timings and hours
- Waiting and bar staff
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The venue or postcode
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The date and time of the event
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, 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