West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Hardham events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Hardham.
- Cocktail parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Welcome-drink canapés
Book tapas catering in Hardham
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Tapas catering in Hardham, cooked live
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Whether it’s birthday drinks and tapas starters, we will put together a menu of albóndigas, tortilla española and gambas al ajillo for your guests.
Near Hardham, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Where
- Hardham (RH20)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Also in Hardham
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why Hardham hosts choose us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- We cover Hardham and the whole of West Sussex
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Afterwards, we clear away.
Waiting staff for canapés.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Unloading access
- Space on each table
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
FAQs for Hardham
Do you cater 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.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Botolph's Church?
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.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Events we cater in Hardham
They make a perfect starter before paella.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Table tapas as a starter
- Anniversary parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Botolph's Church.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- The wet-weather plan
- Whether VAT is included
- When final numbers are due
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
The process
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Sunset in Hardham is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
Planning tapas catering in Hardham? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and normally vegetarian.
Receptions and parties in Hardham
Hardham is about 10 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. From the centre of Hardham to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Hardham to Brighton (19 miles away).
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Pulborough station, about 0.7 miles north-east. Nearby historic houses include Old Place Manor (1 mile north-east) and Parham House (2.5 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Hardham is within about 3 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH20, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. For events just outside Hardham, we cover Coldwaltham (1 mile south-west), Pulborough (1 mile north-east), Watersfield (2 miles south-west), Fittleworth (2 miles north-west) and Lower Horncroft (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Horsham (12 miles north-east), Worthing (10 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (13 miles south-west), Chichester (13 miles south-west), Littlehampton (10 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find Amberley Museum (3.6 miles south) and Coates Castle (2.8 miles west). Not far away are Bignor Hill and Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby, you will find The White Hart Public House (0.7 miles north-west)
- 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