West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in East Dean, West Sussex
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in East Dean: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Drinks reception canapés
Planning an event in East Dean?
Tapas catering in East Dean, cooked live
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. Whether it’s engagement drinks and cocktail parties, we can cook Serrano ham, padrón peppers and tortilla española and more.
Near East Dean, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- East Dean (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Your questions about tapas catering in East Dean
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
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.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Who books tapas catering in East Dean?
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
In East Dean and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Engagement drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Work receptions
After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- How long the team stays
- How late numbers can change
- If the price includes VAT
- Whether travel is included
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Check diets in advance
- Include staff for canapés
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why East Dean hosts choose us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
How the day works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. Evening receptions in East Dean stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- 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.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
More for events in East Dean
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space for a serving table or station
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
Tapas for events in East Dean
East Dean is about 6 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around East Dean. We cater in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from East Dean to Guildford (24 miles away).
If you’re looking at a historic venue around East Dean, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Historic houses near East Dean include West Dean House (2.6 miles west) and Goodwood House (2.9 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of East Dean, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Here we cover the PO18 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Main Road, Chapel Row and Charlton Road or the roads around them. If your venue is just outside East Dean, we also cover Charlton (1 mile west), Singleton (2 miles west), West Dean (3 miles west), Heyshott (3 miles north) and Cocking (3 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Worthing (15 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (8 miles south), Chichester (6 miles south-west), Selsey (13 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles south-east) and Emsworth (10 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Weald and Downland Gridshell (1.8 miles west) and Chichester Centre (5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Graffham Common and Levin Down.
- Nearby, you will find The Star And Garter Public House (under half a mile south)
What tapas catering costs
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The courses you’d like
- Where the event is
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
- 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