Isle of Wight · England
Tapas Catering in Thorley Street
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Thorley Street and across the Isle of Wight.
- Tapas starters
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
Book tapas catering in Thorley Street
Tapas catering for your event in Thorley Street
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Typical bookings include engagement celebrations and drinks reception canapés, with Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas.
Near Thorley Street, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Thorley Street (PO41)
- County
- Isle of Wight
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- How many guests are eating
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The venue or postcode
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Receptions and parties in Thorley Street
Thorley Street is about 6 miles south-east of Lymington, in the Isle of Wight. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Thorley Street. Thorley Street is one of 125 places in the Isle of Wight where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Thorley Street to Southampton (about 16 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St. Swithin's Church. Nearby historic houses include Mottistone Manor (3.4 miles south-east) and Swainston Manor (3.9 miles east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of the Isle of Wight takes in PO41. Your event could be at a home on Hill Place Lane and Holmfield Avenue or the roads around them. We also cook at events in Thorley (1 mile west), Wellow (1 mile south-east), Ningwood (1 mile east), Shalcombe (2 miles south-east) and Newbridge (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Newport (7 miles east), Ryde (13 miles east), Cowes (8 miles north-east), Sandown (14 miles east), Shanklin (13 miles east) and Ventnor (13 miles south-east). For an event at a remote venue, let us know early and we will plan the trip.
Well-known places in the area include Yarmouth Castle (1.7 miles north-west) and Ferguson Family Museum (2 miles west). Not far away are Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve and Compton Down.
What else we do in Thorley Street
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Live paella or other catering?
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. We itemise ours.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Ensure dishes are labelled
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Crockery and serving dishes.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Room for a tapas table
- Unloading access
For somewhere as remote as Thorley Street, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
Questions from Thorley Street
Can you cook near the sea around Thorley Street?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St. Swithin's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes, tapas work on their own.
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
The process
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. At midsummer, it is light in Thorley Street until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:05pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Give us a contact for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
- 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