West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Southbourne, West Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Southbourne.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Work receptions
- Welcome-drink canapés
Book tapas catering in Southbourne
How our tapas catering works in Southbourne
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. We are often asked to cater receptions and drinks parties and office parties and launches, serving patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo.
In Southbourne, tapas work at home or in a local hall. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- Southbourne (PO10)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Should I cook it 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.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. At midsummer, it is light in Southbourne until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. 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
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Events we cater in Southbourne
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
In Southbourne and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Nearby historic houses include Warblington Castle (2.5 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Comparing caterers
- The deadline for final numbers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Where we can cook in Southbourne
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Access to unload near the serving area
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Drinks receptions around Southbourne
Southbourne is about 4 miles east of Havant, in West Sussex. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Southbourne. Southbourne is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 22 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St. John's. Guests travelling by rail: Southbourne station is in Southbourne itself. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cook at events all over the PO10 postcode area and the streets around it. From Lodgebury Close, Manor Road and Northcote Gardens or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Southbourne, we also cover Woodmancote (1 mile north), Lumley (1 mile west), Westbourne (1 mile north-west), Emsworth (1 mile west) and Thorney Island (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (11 miles south-east), Chichester (6 miles east), Selsey (10 miles south-east), Portfield (6 miles east), Yapton (13 miles east) and East Wittering (6 miles south).
A little further out are Warblington Castle (2.5 miles west) and Emsworth Museum (1.3 miles west). Open spaces near Southbourne include Stoke Down and Brook Meadow (Emsworth).
- Local schools include Bourne Community College (less than half a mile north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Traveller's Joy Public House (less than half a mile south-east)
Nearby places to Southbourne
Other catering in Southbourne
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Travel, parking and access
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many courses
- How many staff you need
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Expected numbers
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why Southbourne hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- A quote that spells everything out
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Common questions in Southbourne
Is Southbourne close to London?
About 57 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
We are having a ceremony at St. John's: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Do you cover Southbourne?
Yes, we do. Southbourne is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you provide serving staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
- 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