West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Hammerpot events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hammerpot. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Tapas before paella
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering for Hammerpot events
Is live paella right for your event?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Hammerpot hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Catering across West Sussex, including Hammerpot
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
How our tapas catering works in Hammerpot
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. We’re often asked to cater engagement drinks and launches and office parties, with patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and tortilla española.
For a country party near Hammerpot, tapas and sangria set the mood. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- Hammerpot (BN16)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Step by step
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Hammerpot 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.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Leave space around the cooking area
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Planning help
Where we can cook in Hammerpot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Permission from the venue
- Room for a tapas table
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
For event organisers in Hammerpot
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Occasions we cook for in Hammerpot
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Hammerpot book us for events such as:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas before paella
- Launches and office parties
Historic buildings near Hammerpot often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- If the price includes VAT
Questions from Hammerpot
Could we have live paella in Clapham Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Margaret?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you come to Hammerpot?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Hammerpot is within our area and the rest of West Sussex. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Tapas for events in Hammerpot
Hammerpot is about 3 miles north-east of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Hammerpot. Hammerpot is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 16 miles away.
Parks such as Clapham Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Historic houses near Hammerpot include Ecclesden Manor (1.1 miles south-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Hammerpot is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 4 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Wherever your event is in BN16, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. If your venue is just outside Hammerpot, we also cover Angmering (1 mile south), Patching (2 miles east), Clapham (2 miles east), Hangleton (2 miles south-east) and West Preston (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Worthing (4 miles east), Bognor Regis (9 miles west), Chichester (13 miles west), Selsey (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (3 miles south-west) and Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles east).
A little further out are Rustington Museum (2.3 miles south) and Lyminster Siege Castle (2.4 miles west). Green spaces nearby include WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.
- Schools near Hammerpot include The Angmering School (1.3 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Fox pub (0.7 miles east)
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Your date and when you want to eat
Send us the date, your venue or BN16 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Towns and villages near Hammerpot
Also in Hammerpot
- 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