East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Cousley Wood, East Sussex
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Cousley Wood.
- Tapas before paella
- Tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
Live tapas catering in Cousley Wood
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
About our tapas catering in Cousley Wood
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. On the menu are padrón peppers, Manchego with membrillo and Serrano ham, and we’re regularly asked to cater welcome-drink canapés and tapas and paella menus.
In a rural spot like Cousley Wood, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Location
- Cousley Wood (TN5)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Sunset in Cousley Wood is around 9:15pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
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Planners, venues and businesses
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.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Your questions about tapas catering in Cousley Wood
How far is Cousley Wood from London?
Roughly 35 miles from the centre of London.
We’re having a ceremony at Rehoboth Chapel: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Live paella or other catering?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Cousley Wood hosts choose us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Fast service from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Events we cater in Cousley Wood
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Cousley Wood and East Sussex:
- Tapas before paella
- Table tapas as a starter
- Cocktail parties
- Office parties and launches
Nearby historic houses include Wadhurst Castle (1.6 miles south-west) and Scotney Castle (2.3 miles north-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before you book anyone
- Staff numbers and hours
- Allergen information for each dish
- If the price includes VAT
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What affects the price in Cousley Wood
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
- Timings and hours
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Which courses you have in mind
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.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Canapés need staff to serve
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Places near Cousley Wood
Also in Cousley Wood
Drinks receptions around Cousley Wood
Cousley Wood is about 6 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in East Sussex. Anywhere in TN5, we can cook for your guests. Cousley Wood is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 27 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as Rehoboth Chapel, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Wadhurst station, about 2.1 miles west. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Cousley Wood, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the TN5 postcode area. Other places close to Cousley Wood for tapas catering include Newbury's (1 mile north-west), Pell Green (1 mile south-west), Wadhurst (2 miles south-west), Birchett's Green (2 miles south-east) and Shover's Green (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Hailsham (15 miles south), Crowborough (9 miles west), Uckfield (14 miles south-west), Heathfield (9 miles south-west), Upper Horsebridge (15 miles south) and Hellingly (14 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Ticehurst House Hospital (2.5 miles south-east) and Old Scotney Castle (2.4 miles north-east). Not far away are Bewl Water.
- Local pubs include The Old Vine Public House (under half a mile south-west)
- 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