West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Abbotsford
Looking for tapas catering in Abbotsford? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Evening sharing boards
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Abbotsford
About our tapas catering in Abbotsford
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. Whether it is welcome-drink canapés and tapas and paella menus, we can cook padrón peppers, patatas bravas and albóndigas.
In a rural spot like Abbotsford, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- Abbotsford (RH15)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Check diets in advance
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Who books tapas catering in Abbotsford?
Tapas are sociable food.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas starters
- Tapas before paella
- Birthday and anniversary parties
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Abbotsford, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- What happens if it rains
- Staff numbers and hours
- Payment terms and deposit
- The venue requirements
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Always popular and typically vegetarian.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, often with ham or mushroom.
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and time of the event
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Tapas for events in Abbotsford
Abbotsford is about 1 mile north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Wherever your event is in the RH15 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 10 miles away.
Historic houses near Abbotsford include Ockenden Manor (2.3 miles north) and Tyes Place (4.6 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. After a ceremony at a church such as St Edward the Confessor, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The South Downs National Park is within about 4 miles of Abbotsford, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the RH15 postcode area. Close by, we cover events in Jacob's Post (1 mile south), World's End (1 mile south-east), Burgess Hill (1 mile south-east), Goddards Green (1 mile west) and Ansty (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (10 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (3 miles north-east), East Grinstead (12 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (11 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Burgess Hill Museum (1.3 miles south-east) and Clayton Castle (4.4 miles south). The countryside around Abbotsford includes Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve and Wolstonbury Hill.
- Local schools include Sheddingdean Community Primary School (0.8 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Woolpack Public House (0.7 miles south)
Live paella or other catering?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Catering across West Sussex, including Abbotsford
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Abbotsford questions
Is Abbotsford close to London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Is Abbotsford too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you provide serving staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Are the tapas served hot?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue so they’re served at their best.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How the day works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it’s light in Abbotsford until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Abbotsford? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Also near Abbotsford
What else we do in Abbotsford
- 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