Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Woodlands, Hampshire
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Woodlands: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Launches and office parties
- Evening grazing
Live tapas catering in Woodlands
How our tapas catering works in Woodlands
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. We’re often asked to cater canapés with welcome drinks and engagement parties, with albóndigas, croquetas and patatas bravas.
Near Woodlands, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Woodlands has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Who books tapas catering in Woodlands?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement celebrations
- Welcome-drink canapés
If you are looking at a historic venue around Woodlands, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Before you book anyone
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Travel and parking costs
- VAT, if it applies
- Allergen information for each dish
Woodlands: your questions answered
We’re having a ceremony at Bartley Village Hall: 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.
What’s the nearest station to Woodlands for guests?
Ashurst New Forest station, about 0.9 miles south-east of the centre.
Can you do sangria?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you cover Woodlands?
We do. Woodlands is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Planning a tapas spread in Woodlands
Woodlands is about 2 miles south-west of Totton, in Hampshire. From the centre of Woodlands to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Woodlands is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 6 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Ashurst New Forest station, about 0.9 miles south-east. After a ceremony at a church such as Bartley Village Hall, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The New Forest National Park is within about 3 miles of Woodlands, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cater events across the SO40 postcode area. We can cater an event on streets such as Alpine Road, The Crescent and Hazel Grove or the roads around them. For events just outside Woodlands, we cover Netley Marsh (1 mile north), Ashurst Bridge (1 mile north-east), Bartley (1 mile north-west), Hounsdown (2 miles east) and Winsor (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (15 miles north-east), Eastleigh (10 miles north-east), Fareham (15 miles east), Chandler's Ford (9 miles north-east), Hedge End (10 miles east) and Lymington (10 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include National Dairy Museum (1.5 miles east) and Ashurst Hospital (0.9 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Copythorne Common.
- Local schools include Hounsdown School (2 miles east)
- Local pubs include The New Forest pub (0.8 miles south-east)
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
- Parking near the venue
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
Places near Woodlands
What else we do in Woodlands
Why choose live paella in Woodlands?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Woodlands
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Working with your venue
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Serving boards and crockery.
About the dishes
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
- 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