Brighton and Hove · England
Tapas Catering in Brighton
Looking for tapas catering in Brighton? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Birthday drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering in Brighton
Tapas catering in Brighton, made fresh on the day
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. Typical bookings include canapés with welcome drinks and table tapas as a starter, with gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas.
Brighton has plenty of venues for drinks receptions and parties. Tapas work at both. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Brighton (BN1, BN2, BN3)
- County
- Brighton and Hove
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Brighton has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Unloading access
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
Perfect for your event in Brighton
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Whatever you are celebrating in Brighton, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Welcome-drink canapés
Nearby historic houses include Royal Pavilion (0.8 miles south-west) and Preston Manor & Gardens (1.1 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
What your quote should include
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The wet-weather plan
- The deposit and payment dates
Towns and villages near Brighton
What else we do in Brighton
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why us?
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Events in Brighton and across Brighton and Hove
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing Or The cost guide.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Label seafood clearly
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Serving boards and crockery.
Tapas for events in Brighton
Brighton is in Brighton and Hove. From the centre of Brighton to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover 30 places across Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
A picnic in William Clarke Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. After a ceremony at a church such as St Martin's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Brighton is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cook at events all over BN1, BN2 and BN3. That could mean an event in a garden on London Road, Isetta Square and Pelham Square or the roads around them. Being close to the A23 and A259, Brighton is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. For events just outside Brighton, we cover Hanover (1 mile south), Carlton Hill (1 mile south), West Hill (1 mile west), Hollingdean (1 mile north) and Seven Dials (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Brighton and Hove (3 miles west), Aldrington (3 miles west), Hangleton (3 miles west), Saltdean (4 miles south-east), East Saltdean (5 miles south-east) and Rottingdean (3 miles south-east). As one of the bigger places in Brighton and Hove, Brighton has lots of places to hold an event.
Well-known places in the area include Brighton General Hospital (0.7 miles east) and Old Police Cells Museum (1 mile south-west). The countryside around Brighton includes Newmarket Hill and Whitehawk Hill.
- Nearby schools include Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (0.9 miles west) and Academy of Creative Training (0.9 miles south)
- Local pubs include Park Crescent pub (less than half a mile north-west)
Questions from Brighton
What’s the nearest station to Brighton for guests?
Brighton has its own station: London Road (Brighton) station.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
How many tapas per person?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Tell us more for a suggestion.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, Brighton and Hove included. See all areas.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
- 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