Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering in Waltham Chase
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Waltham Chase. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Engagement parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
Tapas catering for Waltham Chase events
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
How our tapas catering works in Waltham Chase
Sangria and bar staff can be added, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Whether it is evening grazing and drinks parties and receptions, we’ll put together a menu of croquetas, Serrano ham and Manchego with membrillo and more.
In a rural spot like Waltham Chase, 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.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Include staff for canapés
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Staff to serve canapés.
Common questions in Waltham Chase
How far is Waltham Chase from London?
Roughly 62 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We are having a ceremony at Waltham Chase Methodist Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Can you cook indoors?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Perfect for your event in Waltham Chase
Tapas get people talking.
In Waltham Chase and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing boards for evening guests
If you are looking at a historic venue around Waltham Chase, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and parking costs
- Who provides the crockery
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Drinks receptions around Waltham Chase
Waltham Chase is about 5 miles east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. Across the SO32 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cook in 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Waltham Chase to Southampton (8 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Waltham Chase Methodist Church. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Botley station, about 2.7 miles south-west.
Tapas catering in SO32 is planned around your venue and your guests. That could mean an event in a garden on Chase Grove, Club House Lane and Sandy Hill Close. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Bishop's Waltham (2 miles north), Curdridge (2 miles south-west), Ashton (3 miles north), Durley Street (3 miles north-west) and Durley (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Winchester (10 miles north-west), Gosport (9 miles south), Havant (11 miles south-east), Eastleigh (7 miles west), Fareham (6 miles south) and Horndean (9 miles east).
A little further out are Bishop's Waltham Museum (1.4 miles north-west) and Knowle Hospital (3.7 miles south). Open spaces near Waltham Chase include Bishops Waltham Branch LNR.
- Nearby schools include Swanmore College of Technology (0.7 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Black Dog pub (0.5 miles south)
How it works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, it is light in Waltham Chase until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Related guides
Also near Waltham Chase
More for events in Waltham Chase
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Why choose live paella in Waltham Chase?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Waltham Chase
- A quote that spells everything out
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Events in Waltham Chase and across Hampshire
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
What affects the price in Waltham Chase
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
- 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