Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Gosport, Hampshire
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Gosport and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas and paella menus
- Evening sharing boards
Live tapas catering in Gosport
Tapas catering in Gosport, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Popular choices include gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and Manchego with membrillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater birthday drinks and sharing tapas starters.
In a rural spot like Gosport, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you’re ready to eat. At midsummer, it is light in Gosport until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
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DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Live paella or other catering?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Events in Gosport and across Hampshire
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Gosport: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mark?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Gosport for guests?
Chandlers Ford station, about 2.6 miles south-east of the centre.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, Hampshire included. See all areas.
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 help you decide the split.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Starters, canapés and desserts
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the space, if you can
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Events we cater in Gosport
They make a perfect starter before paella.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Gosport:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Welcome-drink canapés
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mark.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How each diet is kept separate
- How bad weather is handled
For planners, venues and organisers
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.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Tapas for events in Gosport
Gosport is about 2 miles east of Romsey, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Gosport or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire. Our events stretch from Gosport to Southampton (about 6 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Chandlers Ford station is about 2.6 miles away. Historic buildings near Gosport frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Here we cover the SO51 postcode area. If your venue is just outside Gosport, we also cover Ampfield (1 mile north-east), Crampmoor (1 mile west), Knapp (1 mile north-east), Broadgate (1 mile east) and Lower Slackstead (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (6 miles north-east), Eastleigh (5 miles south-east), Fareham (15 miles south-east), Andover (14 miles north), Totton (7 miles south-west) and Hedge End (8 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find King Johns House (2.9 miles west) and Romsey Community Hospital (2.2 miles west). Open spaces near Gosport include Emer Bog and Baddesley Common.
- Schools near Gosport include The Mountbatten School (2 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find White Horse Public House (within half a mile north-east)
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Nearby places to Gosport
More for events in Gosport
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space for a serving table or station
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- 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