West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Southgate, West Sussex
Planning tapas catering in Southgate? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement drinks
Book tapas catering in Southgate
About our tapas catering in Southgate
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. Whether it’s engagement parties and tapas starters, we can cook albóndigas, gambas al ajillo and tortilla española.
For a party in a place like Southgate, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Southgate (RH10, RH11)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Receptions and parties in Southgate
Southgate is about 1 mile south-west of Crawley, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Southgate or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Southgate is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Southgate to Brighton (19 miles away).
Parks such as Tilgate Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. If you are looking at a historic venue around Southgate, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH10 and RH11. From Oak Road, Cook Road and Colet Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. You’ll find Southgate on the A2004 and A2219, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Other places close to Southgate for tapas catering include Crawley (1 mile north-east), Tilgate (1 mile east), West Green (1 mile north), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east) and Langley Green (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Horsham (6 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south), East Grinstead (8 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Crawley Museum (0.7 miles north) and County Mall (0.5 miles north-east). Open spaces near Southgate include Tilgate Lake.
- Nearby schools include Three Bridges Junior School (within half a mile north-east) and St Wilfrid's Catholic School (0.5 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Downsman pub (less than half a mile south-east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Where we can cook in Southgate
We will be honest if a space won’t work. What matters most:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Unloading access
- Permission from the venue
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, often with alioli.
Common questions in Southgate
Is Southgate close to London?
Roughly 27 miles from the centre of London.
We are having a ceremony at St Mary's: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
For event organisers in Southgate
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Southgate? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Places near Southgate
Also in Southgate
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Canapés need staff to serve
Table tapas are set down to share.
Serving boards and crockery.
Events we cater in Southgate
Tapas are sociable food, because everyone shares.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
Historic houses near Southgate include Tyes Place (5 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before booking anyone
- Whether travel is included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Whether VAT is included
- Staff numbers and hours
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. A summer drinks reception in Southgate has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
- 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