Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in The Frenches
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in The Frenches.
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Planning an event in The Frenches?
Tapas catering in The Frenches, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they’re great on their own. Popular choices include Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and albóndigas, and we are often booked for welcome-drink canapés and engagement parties.
In a rural spot like The Frenches, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Occasions we cook for in The Frenches
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
In The Frenches and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Evening sharing boards
- Sharing tapas starters
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas before paella
If you are looking at a historic venue around The Frenches, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether travel is included
- How bad weather is handled
- Whether VAT is included
- Space, access and power needs
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Towns and villages near The Frenches
Other catering in The Frenches
Tapas for events in The Frenches
The Frenches is about 3 miles west of Romsey, in Hampshire. For tapas catering in The Frenches, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around The Frenches. The Frenches is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from The Frenches to Southampton (about 9 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Mottisfont & Dunbridge station is about 2.5 miles away. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of All Saints.
For tapas catering in SO51, we plan around your venue and timings. For events just outside The Frenches, we cover Shootash (1 mile east), Plaitford Green (2 miles west), West Wellow (2 miles south-west), East Wellow (2 miles south) and Blackhill (3 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (11 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles east), Andover (15 miles north), Totton (6 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles east) and Hedge End (13 miles south-east).
A little further out are Romsey Community Hospital (3.4 miles east) and Romsey Extra (3 miles south-east). Open spaces near The Frenches include Copythorne Common.
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Include staff for canapés
- Check diets in advance
Each dish is labelled.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
FAQs for The Frenches
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of All Saints?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is The Frenches too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Guest numbers
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Which courses you have in mind
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Step by step
Here’s how the day usually runs: 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. Sunset in The Frenches is around 9:25pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What you get with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Catering across Hampshire, including The Frenches
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
- 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