West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Danehill events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Danehill and across West Sussex.
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
Planning an event in Danehill?
Danehill: your questions answered
Is Danehill close to London?
Roughly 33 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of All Saints?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Danehill.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
Should we have more than one paella?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Tapas catering in Danehill, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. For engagement parties and anniversary parties, we will put together a menu of tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and albóndigas for your guests.
Near Danehill, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Where
- Danehill (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Why live cooking beats a buffet
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, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Danehill hosts choose us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Catering across West Sussex, including Danehill
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Unloading access
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
What tapas catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How long we are needed on site
- Distance and access to the venue
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- The date and time of the event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Where the event is
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Also near Danehill
Also in Danehill
Drinks receptions around Danehill
Danehill is about 5 miles north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. For tapas catering in Danehill, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 15 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Parish Church of All Saints. Nearby historic houses include Priest House (4 miles north-west) and Gravetye Manor (4.8 miles north-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Danehill, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Tapas catering in RH17 is planned around your venue and your guests. Streets in the area include London Road, Lewes Road and Oaktree Cottages, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Danehill, we cover Chelwood Common (1 mile north-east), Furner's Green (1 mile south), Horsted Keynes (1 mile west), Birchgrove (1 mile north) and Chelwood Gate (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (10 miles north-west), Horsham (14 miles west), Haywards Heath (5 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (8 miles south-west), East Grinstead (7 miles north) and Broadfield (10 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Waterbury Castle (1.7 miles west) and Princess Royal Hospital (4.8 miles south-west). Not far away are Brickfield Meadow.
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Sunset in Danehill is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Read more
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
- 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