East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Broad Oak, East Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Broad Oak.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Table tapas as a starter
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Live tapas catering in Broad Oak
The process
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. At midsummer, it’s light in Broad Oak until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Let us know the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
About our tapas catering in Broad Oak
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. For work receptions and drinks reception canapés, we can cook Manchego with membrillo, gambas al ajillo and Serrano ham.
Near Broad Oak, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Broad Oak (TN21)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
What tapas catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Parking and unloading
- How many courses
- Waiting and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Expected numbers
- The venue or postcode
- A photo of the space, if you can
- What the venue already provides
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Nearby places to Broad Oak
Other catering in Broad Oak
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Broad Oak hosts choose us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- A clear, itemised quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Planning a tapas spread in Broad Oak
Broad Oak is about 7 miles south-east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Tell us where your event in Broad Oak will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cover 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 21 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: Stonegate station is about 4.5 miles away. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Ebenezer Chapel. Broad Oak is within about 4 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Tapas catering in TN21 is planned around your venue and your guests. Local streets include Halley Road, Burwash Road and Highview Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside Broad Oak, we cover Cade Street (1 mile south-west), Old Heathfield (1 mile south), Heathfield (2 miles south-west), Sandy Cross (2 miles south-west) and Maynard's Green (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (13 miles south), Hastings (14 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles south-east), Lewes (14 miles south-west), Hailsham (8 miles south) and Crowborough (7 miles north-west).
A little further out are Old Castle (3.7 miles south-east) and Sussex Farm Museum (3.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Selwyns Wood.
- Nearby schools include Heathfield Community College (0.8 miles south)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
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.
Common questions in Broad Oak
Which station should guests use for Broad Oak?
Stonegate station, about 4.5 miles north-east of the centre.
We are having a ceremony at Ebenezer Chapel: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes, tapas work on their own, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Do you cater in Broad Oak?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Broad Oak and across East Sussex. Send us your date to check availability.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Check diets in advance
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Afterwards, we clear away.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Perfect for your event in Broad Oak
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
In Broad Oak and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas and paella menus
Nearby historic houses include Bateman's (4.2 miles east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before you book anyone
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Space, access and power needs
- How bad weather is handled
- 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