West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Walstead events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Walstead. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Drinks reception canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
Tapas catering for Walstead events
About our tapas catering in Walstead
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. On the menu are croquetas, padrón peppers and tortilla española, and we are frequently booked for drinks reception canapés and tapas starters.
In a rural spot like Walstead, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Where
- Walstead (RH16)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Who books tapas catering in Walstead?
Tapas are sociable food, because everyone shares.
In Walstead and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Cocktail parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of the Good Shepherd.
What your quote should include
- Who provides the crockery
- Staff numbers and hours
- When final numbers are due
- Payment terms and deposit
What affects the price in Walstead
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The length of service
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The paellas you choose
- How many courses
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The courses you’d like
- The address or venue name
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Permission from the venue
- A spot for our serving station
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Walstead
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
Your questions about tapas catering in Walstead
How far is Walstead from London?
Roughly 34 miles from the centre of London.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of the Good Shepherd: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details and we will advise.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Catering across West Sussex, including Walstead
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
Receptions and parties in Walstead
Walstead is about 1 mile east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. Tell us where your event in Walstead will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cook in 371 places across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Walstead to Brighton (about 12 miles away).
Parks such as Eastern Road Nature Reserve have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Historic buildings near Walstead often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Walstead, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
For tapas catering in RH16, we plan around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include Sage Avenue, Ivy Drive and Juniper Place, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Walstead is on the B2111, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Walstead, we cover Lindfield (1 mile north-west), Horsted Keynes (3 miles north-east), Ardingly (3 miles north), Furner's Green (4 miles east) and Highbrook (4 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (9 miles north-west), Horsham (12 miles west), Burgess Hill (4 miles south-west), East Grinstead (9 miles north), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-west) and Broadfield (9 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Parish Museum (0.9 miles north-west) and Princess Royal Hospital (1.2 miles south-west). The countryside around Walstead includes Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
- Schools near Walstead include Great Walstead School (0.7 miles east) and Oathall Community College (1 mile west)
- Pubs nearby include The Snowdrop Inn (under half a mile south)
Towns and villages near Walstead
Also in Walstead
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
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
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Collect dietary needs
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Tapas go out to the tables.
Waiting staff for canapés.
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
The process
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, it’s light in Walstead until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- 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 pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Walstead? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
- 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