Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for The Hummicks events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in The Hummicks: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Cocktail parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Live tapas catering in The Hummicks
Planning a tapas spread in The Hummicks
The Hummicks is about 4 miles south-west of Hythe, in Hampshire. Across the SO42 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. The Hummicks is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 7 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Beaulieu Road station, about 4.2 miles north-west. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of the Blessed Virgin and Child, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The New Forest National Park is within about a mile of The Hummicks, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the SO42 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Other places close to The Hummicks for tapas catering include Bailey's Hard (1 mile south-west), Beaulieu (1 mile north-west), East Boldre (2 miles west), Furzey Lodge (2 miles west) and Dibden Purlieu (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gosport (12 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles north), Fareham (11 miles east), Totton (8 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north) and Hedge End (9 miles north-east).
A little further out are Beaulieu Abbey And Display Of Monastic Life (1.1 miles north-west) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (5.9 miles south-west).
- Nearby schools include The New Forest Academy (2.5 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Montagu Arms (0.9 miles west)
Tapas catering for your event in The Hummicks
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas in and around The Hummicks. Popular choices include tortilla española, Serrano ham and gambas al ajillo, and we are frequently booked for canapés with welcome drinks and evening sharing boards.
For a country party near The Hummicks, tapas and sangria set the mood. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
How we price tapas catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we’re needed on site
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- The courses you’d like
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Room for a tapas table
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space to finish hot dishes
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in The Hummicks
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
How the day works
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. A summer drinks reception in The Hummicks has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Afterwards, we clear away.
Staff to serve canapés.
Who books tapas catering in The Hummicks?
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In The Hummicks, people book us for events such as:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Sharing boards for evening guests
If you’re looking at a historic venue around The Hummicks, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Questions to ask before you book
- VAT, if it applies
- Payment terms and deposit
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
The Hummicks: your questions answered
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is The Hummicks too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Also near The Hummicks
More for events in The Hummicks
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- We cover The Hummicks and the whole of Hampshire
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Drinks service on request
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
- 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