Portsmouth · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Kingston, Portsmouth
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Kingston and Portsmouth, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering for Kingston events
How the day works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Evening receptions in Kingston stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning help
Tapas catering in Kingston, cooked live
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Lots of events do both. Typical bookings include drinks parties and receptions and sharing tapas starters, serving patatas bravas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo.
Tapas make a party in Kingston easy and sociable. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- Kingston (PO1, PO3, PO4)
- County
- Portsmouth
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What tapas catering costs
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Why choose tapas catering in Kingston?
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Kingston and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement celebrations
- Evening sharing boards
For guests coming by train, Fratton station is about 0.5 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- Who provides the crockery
- The deadline for final numbers
- A clear list of what’s included
Also in Kingston
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Check diets in advance
- Label seafood clearly
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Serving boards and crockery.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Drinks receptions around Kingston
Kingston is about 1 mile south-east of Portsmouth, in Portsmouth. From the centre of Kingston to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Kingston is one of 19 places in Portsmouth where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 16 miles away.
Parks such as Alexandra Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Kingston, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Wherever your event is in PO1, PO3 and PO4, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Renny Road, Clive Road and Union Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Kingston is on the A288, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Kingston, we also cover Fratton (1 mile south-west), Baffins (1 mile north-east), Copnor (1 mile north), Portsmouth (1 mile north-west) and Landport (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Wymering (3 miles north), Paulsgrove (3 miles north), Cosham (3 miles north), Drayton (3 miles north) and Farlington (3 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include St Mary's Hospital (within half a mile south-east) and The Bridge Shopping Centre (0.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Kingston includes Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
- Nearby schools include Langstone Infant School (within half a mile north-east) and St Edmund's Catholic School (0.9 miles west)
- Local pubs include Graham Arms (within half a mile north-west)
- Other local spots include Southsea (1.8 miles south-west)
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
FAQs for Kingston
What’s the nearest station to Kingston for guests?
Fratton station, about 0.5 miles south-west of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Cuthbert?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
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.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Why choose live paella in Kingston?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas work brilliantly. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
- 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