West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Tortington
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Tortington. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Sharing tapas starters
Tapas catering for Tortington events
About our tapas catering in Tortington
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. We are often asked to cater engagement celebrations and evening sharing boards, with Manchego with membrillo, gambas al ajillo and patatas bravas.
Near Tortington, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Tortington (BN18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. A summer drinks reception in Tortington has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Perfect for your event in Tortington
They work for any size of event.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Tortington book us for events such as:
- Birthday drinks
- Work receptions
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Drinks reception canapés
For guests coming by train, Ford station is in Tortington itself.
Questions to ask before booking
- The deadline for final numbers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The deposit and payment dates
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Organising for someone else?
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Live paella or other catering?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Your questions about tapas catering in Tortington
Is Tortington close to London?
Roughly 50 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Unloading access
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Tortington
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
Planning a tapas spread in Tortington
Tortington is about 3 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Tortington. Tortington is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 19 miles away.
Historic buildings near Tortington frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Nearby historic houses include Ecclesden Manor (4.7 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Tortington is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cater events across the BN18 postcode area and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Ford Road and Gaugemaster Way, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Tortington, we cover Ford (1 mile south), Lyminster (1 mile east), Arundel (1 mile north-east), Wick (2 miles south-east) and Climping (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (6 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (3 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Arundel Castle (1.8 miles north-east) and Arundel and District Hospital (1.4 miles north). The countryside around Tortington includes WWT Arundel.
- Local schools include The Littlehampton Academy (2.3 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station (under half a mile south)
What affects the price in Tortington
These are the factors that matter most:
- Timings and hours
- Travel, parking and access
- How many staff you need
- The paellas you choose
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 to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Also near Tortington
More for events in Tortington
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
- 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