Hampshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Portmore, Hampshire
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Portmore and Hampshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering for Portmore events
For event organisers in Portmore
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Tapas catering in Portmore, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. For tapas with a paella main course and evening grazing, we can cook padrón peppers, Serrano ham and patatas bravas for your guests.
In a rural spot like Portmore, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Receptions and parties in Portmore
Portmore is about 2 miles north-east of Lymington, in Hampshire. Across the SO41 area, we can cook for your guests. Portmore is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Portmore to Southampton (11 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Beaulieu Palace House (4.5 miles north-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Historic buildings near Portmore often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Portmore is within about 4 miles of the New Forest National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Tapas catering in SO41 is planned around your venue and timings. Local streets include Warborne Lane, Jordans Lane and Main Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Nearby, we also cater events in Warborne (1 mile west), Pilley (1 mile north-west), Bull Hill (1 mile north), Pilley Bailey (1 mile north) and Walhampton (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastleigh (15 miles north-east), Fareham (15 miles east), Totton (10 miles north), Hedge End (14 miles north-east), Romsey (15 miles north) and Hythe (8 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Lymington New Forest Hospital (1 mile south-west) and Yarmouth Castle (4.8 miles south). Not far away are Boldre Foreshore.
- Nearby schools include William Gilpin Church of England Primary School (0.8 miles north-west) and Priestlands School (2 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find Walhampton Arms (0.6 miles south-west)
What tapas catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Waiting and bar staff
- Guest numbers
- Distance and access to the venue
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
- The courses you’d like
- The date and time of the event
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Paella compared with other options
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why choose Love Paella in Portmore
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. At midsummer, it is light in Portmore until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Related guides
Also near Portmore
Other catering in Portmore
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Your questions about tapas catering in Portmore
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Which station should guests use for Portmore?
Lymington Town station, about 1.1 miles south-west of the centre.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Do you provide serving staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Who books tapas catering in Portmore?
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Sharing tapas starters
After a ceremony at a church such as Saint Nicholas Chapel, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- If the price includes VAT
- Payment terms and deposit
- A clear list of what’s included
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space on each table
- Unloading access
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- 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