West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Tilgate
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Tilgate: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement parties
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering for Tilgate events
Tapas catering for your event in Tilgate
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. For receptions and drinks parties and tapas with a paella main course, we will put together a menu of patatas bravas, tortilla española and albóndigas for your guests.
Tapas make a party in Tilgate easy and sociable. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Tilgate (RH10, RH11)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas work brilliantly. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Events in Tilgate and across West Sussex
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Step by step
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. Sunset in Tilgate is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- 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.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
What tapas catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The paellas you choose
- Travel, parking and access
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- The address or venue name
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Tilgate questions
Can you cook in Tilgate Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
How far is Tilgate from London?
About 28 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, including West Sussex. See all areas.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes, tapas work on their own, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Places near Tilgate
Also in Tilgate
Planners, venues and businesses
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.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Tapas go out to the tables.
Bar staff and sangria.
Planning a tapas spread in Tilgate
Tilgate is about 1 mile south-east of Crawley, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Tilgate, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cover all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Tilgate to Brighton (19 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Holy Trinity. Historic buildings near Tilgate often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Wherever your event is in RH10 and RH11, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as York Road, Nash Road and Cook Road or the roads around them. Other places close to Tilgate for tapas catering include Southgate (1 mile west), Crawley (1 mile north-west), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east), Maidenbower (1 mile east) and West Green (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Horsham (7 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (6 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include County Mall (0.7 miles north-west) and Crawley Hospital (1.2 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Tilgate Lake.
- Nearby schools include Three Bridges Junior School (0.5 miles north-west) and Thomas Bennett Community College (0.6 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Grasshopper pub (under half a mile south)
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Unloading access
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room for a tapas table
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
Occasions we cook for in Tilgate
They work for any size of event.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas and paella menus
- Evening sharing boards
- Anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, Crawley station is about 0.6 miles away.
Questions to ask before you book
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the price includes, item by item
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- 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