West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Chidham, West Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Chidham. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Work receptions
Live tapas catering in Chidham
Tapas catering for your event in Chidham
Sangria and bar staff can be added, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. We’re often asked to cater tapas with a paella main course and sharing boards for evening guests, serving Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and albóndigas.
For a country party near Chidham, tapas and sangria set the mood. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Chidham (PO18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Chidham hosts choose us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Fast service from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- We cover Chidham and the whole of West Sussex
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Also near Chidham
Also in Chidham
How it works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. A summer drinks reception in Chidham has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Give us a contact for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Bar staff and sangria.
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Occasions we cook for in Chidham
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Cocktail parties
- Anniversary parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Table tapas as a starter
Nearby historic houses include Warblington Castle (4.1 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- When payment is due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
Chidham: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you come out to small places like Chidham?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Do you cover Chidham?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Chidham and the rest of West Sussex. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
How much tapas do we need?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
How we price tapas catering
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- How many courses
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The address or venue name
- What the venue already provides
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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 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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Planning a tapas spread in Chidham
Chidham is about 4 miles west of Chichester, in West Sussex. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Chidham. We cover 371 places in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Chidham to Southampton (23 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Nutbourne station is about 1 mile away. If you are looking at a historic venue around Chidham, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The coast is within about 6 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Anywhere in PO18, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Chidham Lane, Harbour Way and Cot Lane. If your venue is just outside Chidham, we also cover Nutbourne (1 mile north-west), Bosham (1 mile east), Broadbridge (1 mile east), Hambrook (1 mile north) and Bosham Hoe (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles east), Chichester (4 miles east), Selsey (8 miles south-east), Littlehampton (15 miles east), Emsworth (3 miles north-west) and Portfield (5 miles east).
A little further out are Warblington Castle (4.1 miles west) and St Richard's Hospital (4.6 miles east). Not far away are Nutborne Marshes and Stoke Down.
- Local schools include Bourne Community College (2.1 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Bosham Free House Public House And Restaurant (0.6 miles north)
- 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