West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Portslade
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Portslade. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Evening grazing
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering near Portslade
How our tapas catering works in Portslade
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We cook patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and tortilla española, and we’re regularly asked to cater birthday and anniversary parties and evening sharing boards.
For a party in a place like Portslade, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Portslade (BN41, BN3, BN42)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why choose Love Paella in Portslade
- Catering across West Sussex, including Portslade
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. A summer drinks reception in Portslade has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Questions from Portslade
Which station should guests use for Portslade?
The closest is Fishersgate station, roughly 0.7 miles away.
We’re having a ceremony at St Nicolas Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Of course. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Places near Portslade
Other catering in Portslade
Portslade: venues and local tips
Portslade is about 1 mile west of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. For tapas catering in Portslade, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages.
Guests travelling by rail: Fishersgate station is about 0.7 miles away. A picnic in Benfield Hill? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Portslade, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Wherever your event is in BN41, BN3 and BN42, we can cook for your guests. That could mean an event in a garden on Mill Lane, Crown Road and Drove Road. Being close to the A293, Portslade is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. Other places close to Portslade for tapas catering include Hangleton (1 mile north-east), Southwick (1 mile south-west), Kingston by Sea (1 mile west), Shoreham-by-Sea (2 miles west) and Old Shoreham (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (12 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (9 miles north-east), Littlehampton (14 miles west), Lancing (5 miles west) and Rustington (13 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include British Engineerium (1.8 miles east) and Southlands Hospital (1.8 miles west). Open spaces near Portslade include Shoreham Beach and Thundersbarrow Hill.
- Local schools include King's School (under half a mile south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Mill House (less than half a mile east)
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Space on each table
- Room for a tapas table
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Portslade
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Expected numbers
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- What the venue already provides
- The courses you’d like
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Who books tapas catering in Portslade?
They work for any size of event.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Portslade:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas and paella menus
Historic buildings near Portslade often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Travel and parking costs
- Allergen information for each dish
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- 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