West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Lickfold events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Lickfold: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
Live tapas catering in Lickfold
Tapas catering in Lickfold, made fresh on the day
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. For table tapas as a starter and tapas and paella menus, we’ll put together a menu of Manchego with membrillo, Serrano ham and patatas bravas.
Near Lickfold, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Area
- Lickfold (GU28)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Lickfold
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Lickfold questions
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Lawrence: can you cater afterwards?
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.
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’ll work to whatever the site needs.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- The address or venue name
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Tell us what role tapas play
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Sangria and bar staff.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, often with alioli.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. A summer drinks reception in Lickfold has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Events we cater in Lickfold
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Launches and office parties
Historic buildings near Lickfold frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is included
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Staff numbers and hours
- Payment terms and deposit
Planning a tapas spread in Lickfold
Lickfold is about 11 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Lickfold and nearby villages. We cook in 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 16 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Cowdray House (3.4 miles south-west) and Petworth House (4 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Haslemere station, about 4.7 miles north. The South Downs National Park is within about 4 miles of Lickfold, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over GU28. If your venue is just outside Lickfold, we also cover Lurgashall (1 mile north-east), Lodsworth (2 miles south), Northchapel (3 miles north-east), Ebernoe (3 miles east) and Ansteadbrook (4 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Chichester (13 miles south), Storrington (12 miles south-east), Billingshurst (10 miles east), Portfield (13 miles south), Yapton (15 miles south) and Southwater (15 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Midhurst Museum (3.6 miles south-west) and Lodsworth Castle (3.1 miles south). The countryside around Lickfold includes Cooksbridge Meadow and Blackdown.
- Other local spots include North Ambersham (1.6 miles north-west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Also near Lickfold
Also in Lickfold
- 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