Hampshire · England
Tapas Catering for Widley events
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 Widley.
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas before paella
Book tapas catering in Widley
How our tapas catering works in Widley
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. On the menu are padrón peppers, patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo, and we are regularly asked to cater birthday drinks and tapas starters.
For a country party near Widley, tapas and sangria set the mood. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Events in Widley and across Hampshire
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Receptions and parties in Widley
Widley is about 1 mile south-west of Purbrook, in Hampshire. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Widley and nearby villages. Widley is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Widley to Southampton (16 miles away).
Historic houses near Widley include Warblington Castle (3.7 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Christ Church. The coast is within about 6 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Tapas catering in PO7 and PO6 is planned around your venue. Local streets include Lily Avenue, Park Avenue and Hoylake Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Purbrook Heath (1 mile north), Drayton (1 mile south), Farlington (1 mile south-east), Purbrook (1 mile north-east) and Cosham (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Gosport (6 miles south-west), Havant (3 miles east), Eastleigh (15 miles north-west), Fareham (6 miles west), Horndean (4 miles north-east) and Hedge End (12 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Portchester Castle (3.2 miles south-west) and Queen Alexandra Hospital (1 mile south-west). Open spaces near Widley include Portsdown Hill and Southmoor Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Solent Junior School (0.7 miles south-east) and Springfield School (1 mile south)
- Pubs nearby include George Inn (within half a mile south-west)
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Space for a serving table or station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Perfect for your event in Widley
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Widley and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Historic buildings near Widley often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
What your quote should include
- Staff numbers and hours
- Whether VAT is included
- Travel and parking costs
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Check diets in advance
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Tell us what role tapas play
Afterwards, we clear away.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Common questions in Widley
Is Widley close to London?
About 61 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Which station should guests use for Widley?
Cosham station, about 1.3 miles south-west of the centre.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How much does tapas catering cost in Widley?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
The process
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. A summer drinks reception in Widley has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: 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
Should I cook it myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Towns and villages near Widley
More for events in Widley
How we price tapas catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Timings and hours
- How many guests are eating
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Which courses you have in mind
- The address or venue name
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
- 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