West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Portfield events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Portfield.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Birthday drinks
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering near Portfield
Tapas catering in Portfield, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. On the menu are croquetas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo, and we are regularly asked to cater canapés with welcome drinks and tapas starters.
Tapas make a party in Portfield easy and sociable. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
- Where
- Portfield (PO19, PO20, PO18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you’re 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’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Tapas go out to the tables.
Serving boards and crockery.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Parking near the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Portfield
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
Your questions about tapas catering in Portfield
Which station should guests use for Portfield?
The closest is Chichester station, roughly 0.9 miles away.
Can you cook near the sea around Portfield?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
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 do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Do you cover Portfield?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Portfield and the rest of West Sussex. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
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.
Tapas for events in Portfield
Portfield is about 1 mile east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Portfield, and we will plan access and set-up. Portfield is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. We cook right across the region, from Portfield to Brighton (about 28 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: Chichester station is about 0.9 miles away. Nearby historic houses include Goodwood House (2.5 miles north) and West Dean House (4.8 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
For tapas catering in PO19, PO20 and PO18, we plan around your venue and timings. Local streets include Kent Road, York Road and Spur Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. You’ll find Portfield on the A259 and A285, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Chichester (1 mile west), Westhampnett (1 mile north-east), Shopwyke (1 mile east), Maudlin (1 mile north-east) and North Mundham (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Bognor Regis (5 miles south-east), Selsey (7 miles south), Littlehampton (10 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles west), Rustington (11 miles east) and Storrington (15 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (0.6 miles west) and Chichester Castle (0.6 miles west). The countryside around Portfield includes Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Stoke Down.
- Schools near Portfield include Chichester High School For Girls (0.8 miles south-west) and The Prebendal School (0.9 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The East Gate Public House (0.5 miles west)
Is live paella right for your event?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why choose Love Paella in Portfield
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- We cover Portfield and the whole of West Sussex
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it is light in Portfield until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Also near Portfield
More for events in Portfield
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- How many guests are eating
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- Where the event is
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
- 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