West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Balcombe, West Sussex
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Balcombe: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering near Balcombe
About our tapas catering in Balcombe
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. On the menu are gambas al ajillo, croquetas and tortilla española, and we are frequently booked for birthday drinks and table tapas as a starter.
Near Balcombe, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Location
- Balcombe (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
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 the timing is planned around your event. Sunset in Balcombe is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
Planning tapas catering in Balcombe? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask for labels on each dish
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Bar staff and sangria.
Planning the cooking area
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Space to finish hot dishes
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Balcombe
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Balcombe? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Places near Balcombe
More for events in Balcombe
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Balcombe: venues and local tips
Balcombe is about 4 miles north of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. For tapas catering in Balcombe, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Balcombe is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. Our events stretch from Balcombe to Brighton (about 15 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. For guests coming by train, Balcombe station is in Balcombe itself. Balcombe is within about 8 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in RH17, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include London Road, Stockcroft Road and Deanland Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the B2036, Balcombe is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. Nearby, we also cater events in Balcombe Lane (1 mile north), Brook Street (2 miles south), Staplefield (2 miles south-west), Worth Abbey (3 miles north) and Whitemans Green (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (5 miles north-west), Horsham (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south), Burgess Hill (7 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles north-east) and Broadfield (4 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Princess Royal Hospital (4.9 miles south) and Cuckfield Museum (3.5 miles south). Open spaces near Balcombe include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow and Tilgate Lake.
Balcombe: your questions answered
Is Balcombe close to London?
Roughly 31 miles from the centre of London.
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Do you cook tapas on site?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
How much tapas do we need?
That depends on their role in the meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
Can you do sangria?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you’re providing the drinks.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Perfect for your event in Balcombe
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Office parties and launches
- Evening grazing
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Balcombe, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- If the price includes VAT
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Why choose live paella in Balcombe?
Tapas are flexible, so they fit most plans. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why Balcombe hosts choose us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Drinks service on request
- A quote that spells everything out
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
A closer look at the menu
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
- 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