West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Fontwell events
Planning tapas catering in Fontwell? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Engagement drinks
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
Tapas catering near Fontwell
Fontwell: venues and local tips
Fontwell is about 5 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Fontwell, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 23 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: Barnham station is about 1.6 miles away. After a ceremony at a church such as Westergate Mission Hall, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Fontwell, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about 5 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cook at events all over BN18 and PO20 and the streets around it. Streets in the area include London Road, Cooke Road and Steeplechase Way, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Nearby, we also cater events in Eastergate (1 mile south), Slindon (1 mile north-east), Nyton (1 mile south-west), West Barnham (1 mile south) and Slindon Common (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (11 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south), Chichester (6 miles west), Selsey (10 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south-east) and Lancing (14 miles east).
A little further out are Tote Copse Castle (2.2 miles south-west) and Arundel and District Hospital (3.7 miles east). The countryside around Fontwell includes Bignor Hill and WWT Arundel.
- Nearby schools include Eastergate CofE Primary School (1.1 miles south-west)
Tapas catering in Fontwell, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. Whether it’s tapas with a paella main course and evening sharing boards, we can cook croquetas, Manchego with membrillo and padrón peppers for your guests.
For a country party near Fontwell, tapas and sangria set the mood. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Fontwell (BN18, PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Collect dietary needs
- Add sangria or cava
- Label seafood clearly
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Staff to serve canapés.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What you get with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- No hidden extras in your quote
- We cover Fontwell and the whole of West Sussex
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Events we cater in Fontwell
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Cocktail parties
- Drinks reception canapés
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Fontwell, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Before booking anyone
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the price includes, item by item
- Travel and parking costs
- The deposit and payment dates
Questions from Fontwell
Can you cater a reception after a service at Westergate Mission Hall?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Fontwell 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.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Do you cater in Fontwell?
We do. We cook at events in Fontwell and across West Sussex. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Can we add drinks?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
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.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests generally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. A summer drinks reception in Fontwell has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Nearby places to Fontwell
What else we do in Fontwell
Where we can cook in Fontwell
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
What affects the price in Fontwell
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
- The length of service
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The address or venue name
- Your date and when you want to eat
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
- 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