Brighton and Hove · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Withdean, Brighton and Hove
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Withdean.
- Engagement celebrations
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas with a paella main course
Planning an event in Withdean?
Tapas catering for your event in Withdean
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. Popular choices include padrón peppers, Manchego with membrillo and patatas bravas, and typical bookings are for evening grazing and canapés with welcome drinks.
Around Withdean, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Withdean (BN1, BN3)
- Area hub
- Brighton and Hove
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Venue approval for outside catering
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
Questions from Withdean
We’re having a ceremony at St John the Evangelist's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Withdean?
Withdean has its own station: Preston Park station.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
What does tapas catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Nearby places to Withdean
Also in Withdean
Live paella or other catering?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Withdean
- Fast service from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Check diets in advance
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Events we cater in Withdean
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Withdean, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Evening grazing
- Tapas before paella
- Tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Withdean, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- The wet-weather plan
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deposit and payment dates
- The venue requirements
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Withdean: venues and local tips
Withdean is about 2 miles north-west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Tell us where your event in Withdean will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Withdean is one of 30 places in Brighton and Hove where we cook.
Guests travelling by rail: Withdean has its own station, Preston Park station. Historic houses near Withdean include Preston Manor & Gardens (0.6 miles south) and Royal Pavilion (2 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Withdean is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
This part of Brighton and Hove takes in BN1 and BN3, so your event can be anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on Home Road, Croft Road and Bates Road or the roads around them. Being close to the A23, Withdean is easy for us to reach. Close by, we cover events in Preston (1 mile south), Westdene (1 mile north-west), Prestonville (1 mile south), Patcham (1 mile north) and Hollingdean (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Kemptown (3 miles south-east), Whitehawk (3 miles south-east), Saltdean (6 miles south-east), East Saltdean (6 miles south-east), Roedean (3 miles south-east) and Rottingdean (5 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Churchill Square (1.9 miles south) and Brighton Transport Museum (0.8 miles south). Open spaces near Withdean include Newmarket Hill and Ladies Mile.
- Schools near Withdean include Dorothy Stringer High School (less than half a mile east) and Varndean College (less than half a mile east)
- Nearby, you will find The Sportsman pub (under half a mile north-west)
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and normally vegetarian.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Evening receptions in Withdean stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Read more
- 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