West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Runcton events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Runcton. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
- Evening grazing
Live tapas catering in Runcton
Tapas catering in Runcton, cooked live
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas in and around Runcton. We cook tortilla española, Serrano ham and patatas bravas, and typical bookings are for welcome-drink canapés and engagement celebrations.
In a rural spot like Runcton, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Runcton (PO20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning a tapas spread in Runcton
Runcton is about 2 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. For an event in Runcton, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in 371 places in West Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 27 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Goodwood House (3.9 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Guests travelling by rail: Chichester station is about 1.9 miles away. With the sea within about 4 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cater events across PO20 and the streets around it. From Goodwood Gardens, Brookside and Lagness Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. For events just outside Runcton, we cover North Mundham (1 mile west), Merston (1 mile north-east), Lagness (1 mile south-east), Hunston (1 mile west) and Portfield (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east), Emsworth (9 miles west) and Rustington (10 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Chichester Castle (2.1 miles north-west) and The Chichester City Museum (2 miles north-west).
- Schools near Runcton include Chichester Free School (0.6 miles north) and Chichester High School For Girls (1.7 miles north-west)
The process
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Runcton 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Planning help
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Planning the cooking area
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Unloading access
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space on each table
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Bar staff and sangria.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How many courses
Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Expected numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Nearby places to Runcton
More for events in Runcton
Organising for someone else?
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Runcton? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Events we cater in Runcton
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Engagement celebrations
- Work receptions
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Historic buildings near Runcton often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How long the team stays
- What the price includes, item by item
Common questions in Runcton
Do you come out to small places like Runcton?
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 Runcton for guests?
Chichester station, about 1.9 miles north-west of the centre.
Are the tapas fresh?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
- 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