West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Keymer, West Sussex
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Keymer: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests.
- Evening grazing
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
Book tapas catering in Keymer
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Collect dietary needs
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Tapas go out to the tables.
Spanish desserts to finish.
About our tapas catering in Keymer
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. On the menu are albóndigas, padrón peppers and Serrano ham, and typical bookings are for engagement parties and launches and office parties.
Tapas make a party in Keymer easy and sociable. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Area
- Keymer (BN6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
What affects the price in Keymer
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many staff you need
- How many guests are eating
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A photo of the space, if you can
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Fast service from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Keymer questions
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
We’re having a ceremony at St Cosmas and St Damian Church: can you cater afterwards?
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. Tell us where the reception will be.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Evening receptions in Keymer 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.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Other catering in Keymer
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Parking near the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
Perfect for your event in Keymer
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Keymer, people book us for occasions like:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas before paella
- Evening sharing boards
- Table tapas as a starter
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Hassocks station, about 0.5 miles west.
What your quote should include
- If the price includes VAT
- When final numbers are due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the price includes, item by item
Planning a tapas spread in Keymer
Keymer is about 2 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. For tapas catering in Keymer, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Keymer. We cater in 371 places in West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 6 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as St Cosmas and St Damian Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. If you are looking at a historic venue around Keymer, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The South Downs National Park is within about a mile of Keymer, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in BN6, we can bring tapas catering to you. Streets in the area include Flowers Close, The Quadrant and Kymer Gardens, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Keymer for tapas catering include Hassocks (1 mile west), Ditchling (1 mile east), Clayton (1 mile south-west), Hurst Wickham (1 mile north-west) and Westmeston (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (13 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (14 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north), East Grinstead (15 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find The Dene Hospital (3.2 miles north-west) and Clayton Castle (1.2 miles south-west). Open spaces near Keymer include Ditchling Beacon and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Downlands Community School (less than half a mile south-west)
- Local pubs include The Greyhound Public House (under half a mile south-east)
- 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