Isle of Wight · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Gurnard, Isle of Wight
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Gurnard and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
Tapas catering near Gurnard
Tapas catering in Gurnard, cooked live
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. For sharing boards for evening guests and birthday and anniversary parties, we can cook tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and albóndigas for your guests.
Near Gurnard, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Gurnard (PO31)
- County
- Isle of Wight
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Fast service from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Also near Gurnard
Also in Gurnard
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
How we price tapas catering
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Questions from Gurnard
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
We are having a ceremony at All Saints' Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Receptions and parties in Gurnard
Gurnard is about 1 mile west of Cowes, in the Isle of Wight. Anywhere in PO31, we can cook for your guests. We cover 125 places in the Isle of Wight. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 12 miles away.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Gurnard, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like All Saints' Church. With the sea within about a mile, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Tapas catering in PO31 is planned around your venue and timings. Local streets include Cow Lane, The Avenue and Shore Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Nearby, we also cater events in Cowes (1 mile east), Northwood (1 mile south), Rew Street (1 mile south-west), Great Thorness (2 miles south-west) and Noke Common (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (4 miles south), Ryde (7 miles east), Sandown (10 miles south-east), Shanklin (11 miles south-east), Ventnor (12 miles south-east) and Oakfield (8 miles east). If your event is somewhere remote, let us know early and we will plan the trip.
A little further out are St Mary's Hospital (3.2 miles south) and Isle of Wight Natural History Centre (0.5 miles south-east). The countryside around Gurnard includes Mill Hill and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Gurnard include Cowes Enterprise College (0.8 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Portland Inn (under half a mile south-east)
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Table tapas are set down to share.
Bar staff and sangria.
How it works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. Evening receptions in Gurnard stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Where we can cook in Gurnard
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Space for a serving table or station
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
For somewhere as remote as Gurnard, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
Occasions we cook for in Gurnard
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Birthday drinks
- Cocktail parties
Nearby historic houses include Osborne House (2.3 miles east) and Carisbrooke Castle (4.7 miles south). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- Space, access and power needs
- When final numbers are due
- A clear list of what’s 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