West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Halnaker events
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Halnaker.
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday drinks
- Cocktail parties
Live tapas catering in Halnaker
How it works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. A summer drinks reception in Halnaker has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
Related guides
Tapas catering in Halnaker, made fresh on the day
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. We cook albóndigas, padrón peppers and Serrano ham, and we’re regularly asked to cater evening grazing and tapas and paella menus.
Near Halnaker, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- Halnaker (PO18)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas work brilliantly. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why choose Love Paella in Halnaker
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Parking and unloading
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The length of service
- How many staff you need
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Halnaker: your questions answered
Can you cook near the sea around Halnaker?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Is Halnaker close to London?
Roughly 51 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is normally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Check diets in advance
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Ensure dishes are labelled
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Planning a tapas spread in Halnaker
Halnaker is about 3 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. For tapas catering in Halnaker, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cater in 371 places across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Halnaker to Brighton (25 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: Chichester station is about 3.8 miles away. After a ceremony at a church such as The Priory Church of St Mary and St Blaize, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Tapas catering in PO18 is planned around your venue. Your event could be at a home on The Street, Stame Road and Oakford Park or the roads around them. If your venue is just outside Halnaker, we also cover Boxgrove (1 mile south), Waterbeach (1 mile west), Tangmere (1 mile south), Strettington (1 mile south-west) and Westerton (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Worthing (14 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south), Chichester (3 miles south-west), Selsey (10 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles south-east) and Emsworth (10 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Chichester Centre (2.9 miles south-west) and The Chichester City Museum (3.4 miles south-west). Not far away are Levin Down.
Towns and villages near Halnaker
Also in Halnaker
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Room for a tapas table
- Unloading access
- Permission from the venue
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Halnaker
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. 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.
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.
Events we cater in Halnaker
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Evening grazing
- Engagement drinks
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Halnaker, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Comparing caterers
- Travel and parking costs
- The deadline for final numbers
- Who provides the crockery
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- 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