West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in West Grinstead, West Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in West Grinstead. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Live tapas catering in West Grinstead
West Grinstead: your questions answered
Is West Grinstead close to London?
About 37 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Shrine Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis?
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.
Do you cater in West Grinstead?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and West Grinstead is within our area. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
How many paellas should we have?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Tapas catering in West Grinstead, cooked live
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Lots of events do both. For work receptions and birthday drinks, we will put together a menu of padrón peppers, albóndigas and croquetas and more.
In a rural spot like West Grinstead, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- West Grinstead (RH13)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning the cooking area
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
Live paella or other catering?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Tapas for events in West Grinstead
West Grinstead is about 6 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around West Grinstead and nearby villages. West Grinstead is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 13 miles away.
Anywhere in RH13, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Steyning Road, Carylls Meadow and Clothalls Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Littleworth (1 mile south-east), Partridge Green (1 mile south-east), Dial Post (2 miles south-west), Shipley (2 miles west) and Whitehall (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (11 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north), Worthing (11 miles south), Haywards Heath (10 miles east), Burgess Hill (9 miles east) and Littlehampton (15 miles south-west).
Not far away are Knepp Wildland.
Why choose tapas catering in West Grinstead?
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Work receptions
- Tapas before paella
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Shrine Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- How late numbers can change
- Payment terms and deposit
The process
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. At midsummer, it’s light in West Grinstead 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Add sangria or cava
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Serving boards and crockery.
Places near West Grinstead
Also in West Grinstead
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
- 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