East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Butcher's Cross
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Butcher's Cross.
- Evening grazing
- Launches and office parties
- Tapas starters
Planning an event in Butcher's Cross?
Butcher's Cross: your questions answered
How far is Butcher's Cross from London?
Roughly 37 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of the Good Shepherd?
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.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
About our tapas catering in Butcher's Cross
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. Typical bookings include engagement celebrations and tapas before paella, serving Serrano ham, tortilla española and albóndigas.
In a rural spot like Butcher's Cross, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Area
- Butcher's Cross (TN20)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Butcher's Cross: venues and local tips
Butcher's Cross is about 4 miles south-east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. From the centre of Butcher's Cross to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 20 miles away.
Historic buildings near Butcher's Cross frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of the Good Shepherd, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Butcher's Cross, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in TN20, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. For events just outside Butcher's Cross, we cover Skippers Hill (1 mile south-west), Five Ashes (1 mile south), Woolbridge (1 mile north-east), Wellbrook (1 mile east) and Mayfield (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Bexhill-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Lewes (13 miles south-west), Hailsham (10 miles south), Crowborough (4 miles north-west), Uckfield (6 miles south-west) and Polegate (13 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Tickerage Castle (4.1 miles south-west) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (4.1 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Selwyns Wood.
- Local schools include Five Ashes CofE Primary School (within half a mile south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Five Ashes Inn (0.5 miles south)
How it works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. A summer drinks reception in Butcher's Cross 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.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Towns and villages near Butcher's Cross
Also in Butcher's Cross
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Perfect for your event in Butcher's Cross
They make a perfect starter before paella.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Evening sharing boards
- Anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas and paella menus
For guests coming by train, Crowborough station is about 3 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How long the team stays
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Travel, parking and access
- The length of service
- How many guests are eating
- The paellas you choose
Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Send us the date, your venue or TN20 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why Butcher's Cross hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Events in Butcher's Cross and across East Sussex
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- 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