West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in West Marden, West Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in West Marden.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
Live tapas catering in West Marden
Why choose tapas catering in West Marden?
Big or small, tapas work.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas and paella menus
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement parties
If you are looking at a historic venue around West Marden, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What to look for in a quote
- What the price includes, item by item
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The venue requirements
- When final numbers are due
Tapas catering in West Marden, made fresh on the day
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. For cocktail parties and engagement celebrations, we can cook Serrano ham, albóndigas and Manchego with membrillo for your guests.
For a country party near West Marden, tapas and sangria set the mood. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- West Marden (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose live paella in West Marden?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
How we price tapas catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Distance and access to the venue
- The length of service
- The paellas you choose
- Guest numbers
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The venue or postcode
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Where we can cook in West Marden
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Unloading access
- 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 West Marden
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Include staff for canapés
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Staff to serve canapés.
Nearby places to West Marden
More for events in West Marden
For event organisers in West Marden
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Questions from West Marden
What’s the nearest station to West Marden for guests?
Rowlands Castle station, about 2.8 miles south-west of the centre.
Is West Marden too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
How many tapas per person?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
Drinks receptions around West Marden
West Marden is about 5 miles east of Horndean, in West Sussex. Wherever your event is in the PO18 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. West Marden is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 21 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Uppark (2.6 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. West Marden is within about 4 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
For tapas catering in PO18, we plan around your venue and timings. We also cook at events in Forestside (1 mile south-west), Chalton (3 miles north-west), Blendworth (4 miles west), Buriton (5 miles north-west) and Nursted (5 miles north). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (13 miles south-east), Chichester (8 miles south-east), Selsey (14 miles south), Emsworth (5 miles south), Portfield (8 miles south-east) and Yapton (14 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Havant War Memorial Hospital (5.6 miles south-west) and Clanfield Earthwork (4.1 miles north-west). The countryside around West Marden includes Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Compton Down.
- Pubs nearby include The Coach And Horses Public House (0.8 miles north)
How it works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s still served fresh. A summer drinks reception in West Marden has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Get a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in West Marden, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
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