West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Gay Street events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Gay Street: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas before paella
Live tapas catering in Gay Street
Tapas catering in Gay Street, made fresh on the day
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. For sharing tapas starters and tapas before paella, we’ll put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and albóndigas and more.
For a country party near Gay Street, tapas and sangria set the mood. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Area
- Gay Street (RH20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Add sangria or cava
- Collect dietary needs
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Who books tapas catering in Gay Street?
Big or small, tapas work.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Engagement parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Anniversary parties
Nearby historic houses include Old Place Manor (2.4 miles south-west) and Parham House (4.2 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How long the team stays
- The wet-weather plan
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Parking near the venue
- A spot for our serving station
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
Places near Gay Street
Also in Gay Street
Is live paella right for your event?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Gay Street
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- A quote that spells everything out
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
See Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
A closer look at the menu
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Your questions about tapas catering in Gay Street
Which station should guests use for Gay Street?
The closest is Pulborough station, roughly 2.7 miles away.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
For event organisers in Gay Street
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Gay Street? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Gay Street: venues and local tips
Gay Street is about 9 miles south-west of Horsham, in West Sussex. For tapas catering in Gay Street, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 17 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Pulborough station, about 2.7 miles south-west. Gay Street is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cover events in every part of RH20. For events just outside Gay Street, we cover North Heath (1 mile north-west), Nutbourne (1 mile south), Broomershill (1 mile south-west), West Chiltington (2 miles south) and Codmore Hill (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (15 miles north-east), Horsham (9 miles north-east), Worthing (11 miles south), Burgess Hill (15 miles east), Littlehampton (12 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles south-east).
Green spaces nearby include The Mens.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Evening receptions in Gay Street stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- 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 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
How to get a price
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
- 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