East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Arlington, East Sussex
Planning tapas catering in Arlington? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering near Arlington
Why choose live paella in Arlington?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. 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.
Why Arlington hosts choose us
- Catering across East Sussex, including Arlington
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Live cooking, not reheated food
How our tapas catering works in Arlington
We can add sangria and bar staff, for a complete drinks and tapas package. Typical bookings include welcome-drink canapés and evening sharing boards, with Serrano ham, albóndigas and croquetas.
Near Arlington, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Arlington (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Sangria and bar staff.
Questions from Arlington
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Arlington close to London?
Roughly 47 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Parking near the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
Nearby places to Arlington
What else we do in Arlington
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Arlington? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Planning a tapas spread in Arlington
Arlington is about 3 miles south-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Arlington and the surrounding area. We cover all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Arlington to Brighton (14 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Berwick (Sussex) station is about 1.2 miles away. If you are looking at a historic venue around Arlington, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The South Downs National Park is within about 4 miles of Arlington, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cater events across BN26 and the streets around it. For events just outside Arlington, we cover Wickstreet (1 mile north), Berwick (1 mile west), Wilmington (2 miles south), Selmeston (2 miles west) and Milton Street (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (6 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles east), Seaford (6 miles south-west), Lewes (8 miles west), Hailsham (3 miles north-east) and Crowborough (14 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Agricultural Museum (2 miles south) and Hellingly Hospital Railway (4.1 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Combe Hill.
- Local pubs include Yew Tree Inn (within half a mile west)
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Occasions we cook for in Arlington
Tapas are sociable food, because everyone shares.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Arlington and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Parish Church of St Pancras.
What to look for in a quote
- Staff numbers and hours
- Who provides the crockery
- Travel and parking costs
- The wet-weather plan
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it’s light in Arlington until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
- 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