West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Poynings events
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Poynings.
- Birthday drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement celebrations
Tapas catering for Poynings events
Poynings: venues and local tips
Poynings is about 4 miles north of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Poynings, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Poynings is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hassocks station, about 3.3 miles north-east. If you are looking at a historic venue around Poynings, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Poynings is within about 5 miles of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 6 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
This part of West Sussex takes in BN45, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on The Street and Cora's Walk or a nearby road, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Poynings, we also cover Fulking (1 mile south-west), Hangleton (3 miles south), Portslade (4 miles south), Castle Town (4 miles west) and Kingston by Sea (4 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (10 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (5 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (15 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (2.9 miles north-east) and Southlands Hospital (4.4 miles south-west). Not far away are Wolstonbury Hill and Woods Mill.
- Nearby, you will find Royal Oak pub (within half a mile south)
Tapas catering for your event in Poynings
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. Popular choices include Serrano ham, albóndigas and Manchego with membrillo, and we are regularly asked to cater sharing tapas starters and canapés with welcome drinks.
Near Poynings, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
- Location
- Poynings (BN45)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Served hot, straight from the pan
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Label seafood clearly
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Places near Poynings
What else we do in Poynings
What affects the price in Poynings
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Parking and unloading
- The paellas you choose
- How many guests are eating
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Where the event is
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and time of the event
- Which courses you have in mind
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Poynings, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Poynings: your questions answered
Is Poynings too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Poynings for guests?
The closest is Hassocks station, roughly 3.3 miles away.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Poynings.
Do you come to Poynings?
We do. We cook at events in Poynings and across West Sussex. Send us your date to check availability.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Who books tapas catering in Poynings?
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Evening grazing
After a ceremony at a church such as The Church of the Holy Trinity, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- What happens if it rains
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- When payment is due
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Step by step
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Sunset in Poynings is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Permission from the venue
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- 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