Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for Viables events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Viables.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
Planning an event in Viables?
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Tapas catering in Viables, cooked live
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Whether it’s tapas starters and tapas and paella menus, we can cook albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas and more.
In Viables, tapas work at home or in a local hall. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Parking near the venue
- Room for a tapas table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
On the menu in Viables
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
Drinks receptions around Viables
Viables is about 1 mile south-east of Basingstoke, in Hampshire. For an event in Viables, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Reading, about 15 miles away.
Parks such as Hackwood Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Historic buildings near Viables often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
For tapas catering in RG21, RG22 and RG25, we plan around your venue. From Grove Road, Porter Road and Morley Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Viables, we also cover Cliddesden (1 mile south), Eastrop (1 mile north), Oakridge (1 mile north), Lychpit (2 miles north-east) and Old Basing (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Farnborough (14 miles east), Fleet (11 miles east), Aldershot (14 miles east), Alton (8 miles south-east), Yateley (13 miles north-east) and Tadley (8 miles north).
A little further out are Willis Museum (0.9 miles north) and Festival Place (1.1 miles north). Green spaces nearby include The Mill Field and Farleigh Hill.
- Schools near Viables include Queen Mary's College (less than half a mile north) and The Costello School (0.9 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find Jolly Farmer Public House (0.8 miles south-west)
Common questions in Viables
Is Viables close to London?
Roughly 46 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Can you do sangria?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Why choose live paella in Viables?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Viables hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
The process
Here’s how the day normally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. A summer drinks reception in Viables 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.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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.
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Also near Viables
Also in Viables
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Include staff for canapés
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Why choose tapas catering in Viables?
Tapas are sociable food.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
- Table tapas as a starter
Historic houses near Viables include The Vyne (3.9 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before you book anyone
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Travel and parking costs
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- 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