Isle of Wight · England
Tapas & canapé catering in St Lawrence, Isle of Wight
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in St Lawrence and the surrounding area.
- Birthday drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering for St Lawrence events
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Tapas catering in St Lawrence, cooked live
We’ll suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, starter or main event. For sharing boards for evening guests and tapas starters, we can cook patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and albóndigas and more.
Near St Lawrence, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- St Lawrence (PO38)
- Area hub
- Isle of Wight
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Other catering in St Lawrence
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- A spot for our serving station
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
For somewhere as remote as St Lawrence, early notice helps us plan the trip.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
St Lawrence questions
Do you come out to small places like St Lawrence?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Lawrence's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How many tapas per person?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell typically draws people over. Evening receptions in St Lawrence stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
How to get a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
Occasions we cook for in St Lawrence
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing tapas starters
- Evening grazing
- Tapas with a paella main course
Historic buildings near St Lawrence often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What your quote should include
- Who provides the crockery
- The venue requirements
- How late numbers can change
- The wet-weather plan
St Lawrence: venues and local tips
St Lawrence is about 4 miles south-west of Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. Across the PO38 area, we can cook for your guests. St Lawrence is one of 125 towns and villages in the Isle of Wight we cover. Our events stretch from St Lawrence to Southampton (about 24 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Shanklin station, about 4.1 miles north-east. After a ceremony at a church such as St Lawrence's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of the Isle of Wight takes in PO38, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Twining Road, Whitwell Road and Woolverton Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. For events just outside St Lawrence, we cover Steephill (1 mile east), Nettlecombe (1 mile north-west), Whitwell (1 mile north-west), Ventnor (1 mile east) and Bierley (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Newport (8 miles north), Ryde (10 miles north), Cowes (12 miles north), Sandown (6 miles north-east), Shanklin (4 miles north-east) and East Cowes (12 miles north). Remote venues take a little more planning, so contact us in good time.
A little further out are South Wight (1.9 miles north-east) and Longshoremans Museum (1.3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Stenbury Down.
- Nearby schools include The Island Free School (1.2 miles north-east) and St Catherine's School (1.5 miles east)
Paella compared with other options
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in St Lawrence
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Events in St Lawrence and across the Isle of Wight
- Fast service from the pan
- A quote that spells everything out
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What tapas catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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