West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Aldingbourne, West Sussex
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Aldingbourne: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Engagement drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas starters
Tapas catering near Aldingbourne
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Parking near the venue
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Permission from the venue
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
About our tapas catering in Aldingbourne
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings. On the menu are Manchego with membrillo, croquetas and Serrano ham, and we’re frequently booked for engagement celebrations and sharing tapas starters.
Near Aldingbourne, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Aldingbourne (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
The menu, dish by dish
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, often with alioli.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Add sangria or cava
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Include staff for canapés
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Serving boards and crockery.
Aldingbourne: venues and local tips
Aldingbourne is about 3 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. For an event in Aldingbourne, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Aldingbourne to Brighton (24 miles away).
Historic houses near Aldingbourne include Goodwood House (3.2 miles north-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Parish Church of St Mary. The South Downs National Park is within about 8 miles of Aldingbourne, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 4 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
For tapas catering in PO20, we plan around your venue and timings. Local streets include Hook Lane and Park Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside Aldingbourne, we cover Nyton (1 mile east), Norton (1 mile north), Westergate (1 mile east), East Hampnett (1 mile north-west) and Crockerhill (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Worthing (13 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south), Chichester (4 miles west), Selsey (9 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles east) and Emsworth (11 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (3.9 miles west) and Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (3.3 miles south).
- Local schools include Ormiston Six Villages Academy (1 mile east)
Places near Aldingbourne
Also in Aldingbourne
Common questions in Aldingbourne
Is Aldingbourne too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Events we cater in Aldingbourne
They’re the classic starter before paella.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Evening sharing boards
- Tapas starters
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Cocktail parties
Historic buildings near Aldingbourne frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- How bad weather is handled
- Staff numbers and hours
- Space, access and power needs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
How it works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. At midsummer, it’s light in Aldingbourne until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in Aldingbourne
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Live paella or other catering?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Events in Aldingbourne and across West Sussex
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Drinks service on request
- 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