West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Patching, West Sussex
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Patching and the surrounding area.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas before paella
Planning an event in Patching?
How our tapas catering works in Patching
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. Typical bookings include tapas with a paella main course and drinks reception canapés, serving croquetas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo.
Near Patching, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
- Area
- Patching (BN13)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and rough timings
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Step by step
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, it is light in Patching until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Read more
Patching questions
Could we have live paella in Clapham Wood?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
How far is Patching from London?
Roughly 48 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
How many tapas per person?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Planning a tapas spread in Patching
Patching is about 3 miles north-west of Worthing, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Patching or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover 371 places across West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 14 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: Goring-By-Sea station is about 2.3 miles away. Historic houses near Patching include Ecclesden Manor (1.5 miles south-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Patching, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 5 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cater events across BN13. From The Street and Coldharbour Lane or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Close by, we cover events in Clapham (1 mile south-east), Hammerpot (2 miles west), Cote (2 miles east), Angmering (2 miles south-west) and Hangleton (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (3 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles west), Chichester (14 miles west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles east) and Lancing (6 miles east).
A little further out are Museum of Sussex Folklore (3.1 miles south-east) and Old Castle (3.1 miles south-east). Open spaces near Patching include WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.
- Local schools include The Angmering School (2.2 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Fox pub (0.8 miles south-west)
What else we do in Patching
Is live paella right for your event?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why us?
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Fast service from the pan
- Drinks service on request
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Parking near the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- An area to prepare hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Patching
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Staff to serve canapés.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
Always popular and generally vegetarian.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
- 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