East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Barcombe Cross events
Planning tapas catering in Barcombe Cross? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement drinks
- Table tapas as a starter
Live tapas catering in Barcombe Cross
Tapas catering in Barcombe Cross, cooked live
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they’re great on their own. For work receptions and sharing boards for evening guests, we can cook Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and padrón peppers.
Near Barcombe Cross, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Where
- Barcombe Cross (BN8)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Room for a tapas table
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
Barcombe Cross: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Barcombe Cross?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
We are having a ceremony at St Francis of Assisi: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
What affects the price in Barcombe Cross
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
- Whether you need crockery
- How many guests are eating
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
Planning tapas catering in Barcombe Cross? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Barcombe Cross: venues and local tips
Barcombe Cross is about 3 miles north of Lewes, in East Sussex. For an event in Barcombe Cross, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Barcombe Cross is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 9 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Cooksbridge station is about 1.9 miles away. Historic buildings near Barcombe Cross often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Barcombe Cross is within about 4 miles of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the BN8 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on High Street, Grange Road and Weald Close or a nearby road, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Barcombe Cross, we also cover Barcombe (1 mile south), Mount Pleasant (1 mile north-east), Barcombe Mills (1 mile south-east), Upper Wellingham (2 miles south-east) and Cooksbridge (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (15 miles south-east), Seaford (11 miles south), Lewes (3 miles south), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (11 miles north-east) and Uckfield (5 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3.7 miles south-east) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (3.6 miles south). The countryside around Barcombe Cross includes Malling Down and Offham Hill.
- Local schools include Chailey School (2.3 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include Royal Oak pub (less than half a mile south-east)
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Live paella or other catering?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What you get with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Drinks service on request
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Occasions we cook for in Barcombe Cross
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Birthday drinks
- Evening sharing boards
After a ceremony at a church such as St Francis of Assisi, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What to look for in a quote
- How bad weather is handled
- VAT, if it applies
- A clear list of what’s included
- Travel and parking costs
Also near Barcombe Cross
Also in Barcombe Cross
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Step by step
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Sunset in Barcombe Cross is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
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