Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Portchester, Hampshire
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Portchester. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering in Portchester
A closer look at the menu
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Tapas catering in Portchester, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include tapas and paella menus and drinks reception canapés, with Manchego with membrillo, Serrano ham and tortilla española.
For a party in a place like Portchester, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
Where we can cook in Portchester
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Parking near the venue
- Space on each table
- Venue approval for outside catering
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Portchester
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
Your questions about tapas catering in Portchester
What’s the nearest station to Portchester for guests?
The closest is Portchester station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Is Portchester close to London?
About 64 miles from central London.
Do you cover Portchester?
Yes, we do. Portchester is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Include staff for canapés
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Receptions and parties in Portchester
Portchester is about 3 miles north-east of Gosport, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Portchester, and we’ll plan access and set-up. We cover 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Portchester to Southampton (about 13 miles away).
Historic buildings near Portchester often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Portchester station, about 0.5 miles north-west. The coast is within about 5 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of Hampshire takes in PO16, PO6 and PO17. Local streets include Cow Lane, Hill Road and Ralph Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Portchester, we also cover Boarhunt (2 miles north-west), Southwick (2 miles north), Elson (2 miles south-west), Wallington (2 miles west) and Priddy's Hard (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Gosport (3 miles south-west), Havant (6 miles east), Eastleigh (13 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles west), Horndean (7 miles north-east) and Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-west).
A little further out are Portchester Castle (under half a mile south-east) and Queen Alexandra Hospital (2.3 miles east). Not far away are West of the River Alver and Portsdown Hill.
- Schools near Portchester include Portchester Community School (within half a mile west)
- Pubs nearby include The Cormorant pub (within half a mile south-east)
Events we cater in Portchester
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Tapas starters
- Engagement parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday drinks
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- How each diet is kept separate
- If the price includes VAT
- The wet-weather plan
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Portchester has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Read more
Towns and villages near Portchester
Other catering in Portchester
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Drinks service on request
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Fast service from the pan
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and time of the event
- Anything your venue supplies
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
- 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