East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Ashburnham
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 turns food into part of your event in Ashburnham.
- Anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
- Welcome-drink canapés
Tapas catering near Ashburnham
How our tapas catering works in Ashburnham
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. For sharing tapas starters and canapés with welcome drinks, we can cook Serrano ham, croquetas and gambas al ajillo for your guests.
In a rural spot like Ashburnham, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
- Area
- Ashburnham (TN33)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. At midsummer, it’s light in Ashburnham until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Read more
Events we cater in Ashburnham
Tapas are sociable food.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Ashburnham and East Sussex:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas and paella menus
Historic buildings near Ashburnham often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Before booking anyone
- Travel and parking costs
- The deposit and payment dates
- What happens if it rains
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
FAQs for Ashburnham
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Could we have live paella in Ashburnham Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you provide serving staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, including East Sussex. Find your area.
Paella compared with other options
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What you get with us
- Catering across East Sussex, including Ashburnham
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Also near Ashburnham
More for events in Ashburnham
Ashburnham: venues and local tips
Ashburnham is about 5 miles north-west of Bexhill-on-Sea, in East Sussex. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Ashburnham and nearby villages. Ashburnham is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 24 miles away.
Parks such as Ashburnham Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. For guests coming by train, Battle station is about 4.4 miles away. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Ashburnham, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the TN33 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Church Road and The Forge or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Ashburnham, we also cover Brownbread Street (1 mile west), The Pound (1 mile south), Bodle Street Green (2 miles west), Wood's Corner (3 miles north-west) and Dallington (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (10 miles south-west), Hastings (8 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (5 miles south-east), Hailsham (7 miles south-west), Crowborough (14 miles north-west) and St Leonards (8 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Old Castle (3.1 miles north-west) and Battle Museum of Local History (3.9 miles east). Not far away are Senlac Hill.
- Local pubs include The Ash Tree Inn (0.5 miles west)
Space, weather and the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Access to unload near the serving area
- An area to prepare hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Ashburnham
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
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.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What tapas catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How long we’re needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The address or venue name
- The courses you’d like
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Include staff for canapés
- Label seafood clearly
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Spanish desserts to finish.
- 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