East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Alfriston
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Alfriston: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Evening sharing boards
Book tapas catering in Alfriston
How our tapas catering works in Alfriston
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; for seated meals, table tapas. Many events have both. On the menu are tortilla española, croquetas and albóndigas, and we are regularly asked to cater table tapas as a starter and welcome-drink canapés.
For a country party near Alfriston, tapas and sangria set the mood. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Alfriston (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Catering across East Sussex, including Alfriston
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, 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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
The process
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Sunset in Alfriston is around 9:15pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, often with alioli.
Questions from Alfriston
Which station should guests use for Alfriston?
The closest is Berwick (Sussex) station, roughly 2.2 miles away.
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.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you come to Alfriston?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Alfriston is within our area and the rest of East Sussex. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Occasions we cook for in Alfriston
Tapas are sociable food.
In Alfriston and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Engagement celebrations
- Evening grazing
- Tapas starters
- Office parties and launches
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St. Andrew.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- Allergen information for each dish
- Who provides the crockery
- When payment is due
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Include staff for canapés
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Serving boards and crockery.
Towns and villages near Alfriston
More for events in Alfriston
Planning a tapas spread in Alfriston
Alfriston is about 3 miles north-east of Seaford, in East Sussex. Anywhere in BN26, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 289 places across East Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Alfriston to Brighton (about 13 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Berwick (Sussex) station is about 2.2 miles away. Nearby historic houses include Alfriston Clergy House (within half a mile south-east) and Charleston Farmhouse (2.9 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Alfriston is within about a mile of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 4 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cater events across BN26. From High Street, Ropewalk and West Street or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to Alfriston for tapas catering include Winton (1 mile north), Lullington (1 mile south-east), Dukes Green (1 mile south), Milton Street (1 mile north-east) and Alciston (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (6 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (3 miles south-west), Lewes (8 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north-east) and Uckfield (11 miles north).
A little further out are Old Forge Museum (Alfriston) (less than half a mile north-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (4.2 miles south-west). Open spaces near Alfriston include Firle Beacon.
- Local pubs include Ye Olde Smugglers Inn (less than half a mile south-east)
What affects the price in Alfriston
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The paellas you choose
- How many guests are eating
- Timings and hours
- Parking and unloading
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What we need to know
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
For event organisers in Alfriston
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
- 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