East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Blackboys, East Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Blackboys. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Engagement parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Tapas catering in Blackboys
About our tapas catering in Blackboys
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. For office parties and launches and welcome-drink canapés, we can cook tortilla española, albóndigas and Manchego with membrillo for your guests.
Near Blackboys, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Location
- Blackboys (TN22)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A spot for our serving station
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Blackboys
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
Organising for someone else?
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Drinks receptions around Blackboys
Blackboys is about 3 miles east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Wherever your event is in the TN22 area, we can cook for your guests. Blackboys is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Blackboys to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
Parks such as Passingworth Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Historic buildings near Blackboys often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Blackboys, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
This part of East Sussex takes in TN22. Streets in the area include High Street, Mount Pleasant and Gun Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. You’ll find Blackboys on the B2102, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Nearby, we also cater events in Etchingwood (1 mile north-west), Framfield (1 mile west), Potter's Green (2 miles north-west), Buxted (2 miles north-west) and Hadlow Down (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (13 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Seaford (13 miles south), Lewes (9 miles south-west), Hailsham (8 miles south-east) and Crowborough (6 miles north).
A little further out are Uckfield Community Hospital (2.6 miles west) and Sussex Farm Museum (3.9 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Selwyns Wood.
- Local pubs include Blackboys Inn (under half a mile south)
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
What tapas catering costs
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many guests are eating
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. 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. Try to include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
- What the venue already provides
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
The process
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it is light in Blackboys 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.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Check diets in advance
Afterwards, we clear away.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Why choose tapas catering in Blackboys?
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Whatever you are celebrating in Blackboys, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Cocktail parties
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, Buxted station is about 2.3 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The deposit and payment dates
- What happens if it rains
- Travel and parking costs
Questions from Blackboys
Is Blackboys close to London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Could we have live paella in Passingworth Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Places near Blackboys
Also in Blackboys
- 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