East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Cross in Hand, East Sussex
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Cross in Hand.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement drinks
Planning an event in Cross in Hand?
Why choose tapas catering in Cross in Hand?
Big or small, tapas work.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Cross in Hand:
- Tapas and paella menus
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Table tapas as a starter
Parks such as Passingworth Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Before booking anyone
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- When final numbers are due
- Whether VAT is included
Tapas catering in Cross in Hand, cooked live
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. Whether it is tapas before paella and welcome-drink canapés, we’ll put together a menu of albóndigas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo and more.
For a country party near Cross in Hand, tapas and sangria set the mood. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Cross in Hand (TN21)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Also near Cross in Hand
Also in Cross in Hand
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Add sangria or cava
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Bar staff and sangria.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s served at its best. At midsummer, it is light in Cross in Hand until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Drinks receptions around Cross in Hand
Cross in Hand is about 5 miles east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. For tapas catering in Cross in Hand, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Cross in Hand is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 18 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Cross in Hand, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Guests travelling by rail: Buxted station is about 3.9 miles away. Cross in Hand 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. We can cater an event on streets such as Fir Grove Road, Windmill Place and Dads Hill. Other places close to Cross in Hand for tapas catering include Roser's Cross (1 mile south-west), Waldron (1 mile south-west), Heathfield (2 miles east), Sandy Cross (2 miles south-east) and Lions Green (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (13 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-east), Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (11 miles south-west), Hailsham (8 miles south) and Crowborough (6 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Sussex Farm Museum (2.8 miles south) and Tickerage Castle (2.9 miles west). Open spaces near Cross in Hand include Selwyns Wood.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why book with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Questions from Cross in Hand
How far is Cross in Hand from London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We are having a ceremony at St Bartholomew: 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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you come to Cross in Hand?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Cross in Hand. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
What affects the price in Cross in Hand
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How long we’re needed on site
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Which courses you have in mind
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
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.
- 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