West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Shipley
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Shipley.
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement parties
Book tapas catering in Shipley
Questions from Shipley
We’re having a ceremony at The Church of St Mary the Virgin: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is Shipley 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.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you come to Shipley?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Shipley. To check your date, use our quote form.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Tapas catering in Shipley, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. We cook gambas al ajillo, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo, and typical bookings are for tapas and paella menus and canapés with welcome drinks.
For a country party near Shipley, tapas and sangria set the mood. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Shipley (RH13)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Nearby places to Shipley
More for events in Shipley
Who books tapas catering in Shipley?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Shipley book us for events such as:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Cocktail parties
For guests coming by train, Billingshurst station is about 4 miles away.
What your quote should include
- VAT, if it applies
- How bad weather is handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Unloading access
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
Why choose live paella in Shipley?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. A summer drinks reception in Shipley has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Include staff for canapés
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Serving boards and crockery.
Receptions and parties in Shipley
Shipley is about 6 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. Across the RH13 area, we can bring the pans to you. Shipley is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 15 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Church of St Mary the Virgin.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH13. That could mean an event in a garden on Church Close and School Lane or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Whitehall (1 mile south-west), Dragons Green (1 mile north), Broomer's Corner (1 mile south-west), Dial Post (2 miles south) and West Grinstead (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (12 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north), Worthing (11 miles south), Haywards Heath (12 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles east) and Littlehampton (14 miles south-west).
Open spaces near Shipley include Knepp Wildland.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
- 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