West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Charlton, West Sussex
Planning tapas catering in Charlton? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering in Charlton
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Tapas catering in Charlton, cooked live
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings. Typical bookings include anniversary parties and receptions and drinks parties, serving gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española.
Near Charlton, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Area
- Charlton (PO18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Your questions about tapas catering in Charlton
Is Charlton too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What does tapas catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Include staff for canapés
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Table tapas are set down to share.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Who books tapas catering in Charlton?
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Charlton book us for events such as:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement drinks
Nearby historic houses include West Dean House (1.7 miles west) and Goodwood House (2.7 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
What your quote should include
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether VAT is included
- How late numbers can change
- How each diet is kept separate
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many staff you need
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and rough timings
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Charlton
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- No hidden extras in your quote
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
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 handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests usually gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Sunset in Charlton is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Charlton: venues and local tips
Charlton is about 5 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Charlton or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 24 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Charlton, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Charlton is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of West Sussex takes in PO18, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Charlton Road and Knight's Hill, and we can cook for an event on any of them. We also cook at events in Singleton (1 mile west), East Dean (1 mile east), West Dean (2 miles west), Cocking (3 miles north) and Heyshott (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles south), Chichester (5 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles south-east), Emsworth (10 miles south-west) and Rustington (12 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Centre (4.6 miles south) and Weald and Downland Gridshell (0.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
- Nearby, you will find The Fox Goes Free pub (less than half a mile north-east)
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Parking near the venue
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Permission from the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Charlton
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
Also near Charlton
Also in Charlton
- 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