Isle of Wight · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Parkhurst, Isle of Wight
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Parkhurst. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering in Parkhurst
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Parking near the venue
- Permission from the venue
For somewhere as remote as Parkhurst, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
How our tapas catering works in Parkhurst
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. We cook tortilla española, albóndigas and patatas bravas, and we’re often booked for engagement drinks and cocktail parties.
For a country party near Parkhurst, tapas and sangria set the mood. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Parkhurst (PO30)
- County
- Isle of Wight
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Live paella or other catering?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. 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.
Why choose Love Paella in Parkhurst
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- We cover Parkhurst and the whole of the Isle of Wight
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Events we cater in Parkhurst
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Launches and office parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement parties
- Table tapas as a starter
Nearby historic houses include Carisbrooke Castle (2.1 miles south) and Osborne House (2.8 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
What your quote should include
- The venue requirements
- How long the team stays
- How bad weather is handled
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Collect dietary needs
- Ask for labels on each dish
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Bar staff and sangria.
What happens on the day
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you’re ready to eat. A summer drinks reception in Parkhurst 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.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Questions from Parkhurst
Can you cook near the sea around Parkhurst?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Can you cook in Seaclose Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you cover Parkhurst?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Parkhurst is within our area. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Planning a tapas spread in Parkhurst
Parkhurst is about 1 mile north of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Tell us where your event in Parkhurst will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in all 125 towns and villages across the Isle of Wight. We cook right across the region, from Parkhurst to Southampton (about 14 miles away).
Historic buildings near Parkhurst frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Parks such as Seaclose Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
For tapas catering in PO30, we plan around your venue. From Dodnor Lane, Argyle Road and Sherwood Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Noke Common (1 mile north-west), Hunny Hill (1 mile south), Forest Side (1 mile south-west), Northwood (2 miles north) and Rew Street (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Ryde (6 miles east), Cowes (3 miles north), Sandown (8 miles south-east), Shanklin (8 miles south-east), Ventnor (9 miles south-east) and East Cowes (3 miles north). Some remote venues need extra planning, so ask early about your event.
Nearby you will also find Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum (1 mile south-east) and Carisbrooke Castle (2.1 miles south). Not far away are Mill Hill and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Parkhurst include Medina College (1 mile east) and Island Innovation VI Form Campus (1.4 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Stag pub (0.5 miles north)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What tapas catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Whether you need crockery
- Guest numbers
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many courses
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The courses you’d like
- Where the event is
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Nearby places to Parkhurst
Also in Parkhurst
- 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