West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Small Dole
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Small Dole and the surrounding area.
- Anniversary parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Office parties and launches
Tapas catering in Small Dole
Tapas catering for your event in Small Dole
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings. For launches and office parties and engagement drinks, we can cook croquetas, gambas al ajillo and patatas bravas.
Near Small Dole, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Where
- Small Dole (BN5)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Organising for someone else?
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Events we cater in Small Dole
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Tapas and paella menus
- Work receptions
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday and anniversary parties
A picnic in Tottington Wood? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
Questions to ask before you book
- A clear list of what’s included
- When final numbers are due
- The wet-weather plan
- The venue requirements
Planning a tapas spread in Small Dole
Small Dole is about 5 miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. Anywhere in BN5, we can cook for your guests. We cater in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Small Dole to Brighton (8 miles away).
Historic houses near Small Dole include Portslade Manor (4.8 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Shoreham-By-Sea station, about 4.8 miles south. Small Dole is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 6 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cover events in every part of BN5. Local streets include Downsview, Tottington Drive and Orchard Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Small Dole for tapas catering include Woodmancote (2 miles north-east), Henfield (2 miles north), Blackstone (2 miles north-east), Albourne (3 miles north-east) and High Cross (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (11 miles north), Worthing (8 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (13 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Southlands Hospital (4.4 miles south) and Steyning Museum (2.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Woods Mill and Truleigh Hill.
The process
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evening receptions in Small Dole stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
A closer look at the menu
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Why choose live paella in Small Dole?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why us?
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria and bar staff available
Where we can cook in Small Dole
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Permission from the venue
- Room for a tapas table
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Tell us what role tapas play
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Places near Small Dole
What else we do in Small Dole
Small Dole questions
What’s the nearest station to Small Dole for guests?
Shoreham-By-Sea station, about 4.8 miles south of the centre.
Is Small Dole too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can we add drinks?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
- 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