East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Beckley Furnace
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Beckley Furnace and across East Sussex.
- Evening grazing
- Tapas and paella menus
- Engagement drinks
Book tapas catering in Beckley Furnace
Tapas catering in Beckley Furnace, cooked live
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. Whether it’s work receptions and engagement celebrations, we can cook gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and tortilla española and more.
Near Beckley Furnace, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- Beckley Furnace (TN31)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Beckley Furnace: venues and local tips
Beckley Furnace is about 7 miles north of Hastings, in East Sussex. Anywhere in TN31, we can bring the pans to you. We cater in 289 places in East Sussex. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 30 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Doleham station, about 2.9 miles south. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Anywhere in TN31, we can bring tapas catering to you. Close by, we cover events in Broad Oak (1 mile south-west), Broadland Row (1 mile south-east), Beckley (2 miles north-east), Udimore (2 miles south-east) and Northiam (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Hastings (7 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles south-west), St Leonards (8 miles south), Hastings Old Town (7 miles south), Belmont (7 miles south) and Hollington (7 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Conquest Hospital (5.6 miles south). The countryside around Beckley Furnace includes Flatropers Wood.
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Beckley Furnace: your questions answered
Can you cook near the sea around Beckley Furnace?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Is Beckley Furnace close to London?
Roughly 48 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Is live paella right for your event?
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Catering across East Sussex, including Beckley Furnace
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Beckley Furnace
They work for any size of event.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Cocktail parties
- Office parties and launches
- Evening grazing
Nearby historic houses include Great Dixter (2.7 miles north) and Durhamford Manor (4.2 miles west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- How late numbers can change
- How long the team stays
- Payment terms and deposit
More for events in Beckley Furnace
Where we can cook in Beckley Furnace
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Permission from the venue
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
What affects the price in Beckley Furnace
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Your choice of paellas
- Timings and hours
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of where we’d cook
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, it’s light in Beckley Furnace until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
How to prepare
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Check diets in advance
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Add sangria or cava
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
- 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