Brighton and Hove · England
Tapas Catering in East Saltdean
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in East Saltdean: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas starters
Planning an event in East Saltdean?
About our tapas catering in East Saltdean
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. We are often asked to cater office parties and launches and sharing boards for evening guests, with Manchego with membrillo, padrón peppers and croquetas.
Tapas make a party in East Saltdean easy and sociable. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Area
- East Saltdean (BN2)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Drinks receptions around East Saltdean
East Saltdean is about 4 miles west of Newhaven, in Brighton and Hove. For tapas catering in East Saltdean, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover 30 places in Brighton and Hove.
A picnic in Beacon Hill? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is often easier for catering. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Nicholas. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of East Saltdean, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 5 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Here we cover the BN2 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Wicklands Avenue, Oaklands Avenue and Brambletyne Avenue or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to East Saltdean for tapas catering include Saltdean (1 mile west), Telscombe (1 mile east), Rottingdean (2 miles north-west), Ovingdean (2 miles north-west) and Rodmell (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Brighton (5 miles north-west), Brighton and Hove (7 miles west), Hove (7 miles west), Carlton Hill (5 miles west), Hanover (5 miles north-west) and West Hill (5 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include French Convalescent Home (3.5 miles west) and Planet Earth Museum (3.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Newmarket Hill and Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve.
- Schools near East Saltdean include Peacehaven Community School (1.5 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include Smugglers Rest pub (0.5 miles south-east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Perfect for your event in East Saltdean
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In East Saltdean, people book us for occasions like:
- Cocktail parties
- Office parties and launches
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday drinks
If you are looking at a historic venue around East Saltdean, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- The deposit and payment dates
- Who provides the crockery
- How long the team stays
- Travel and parking costs
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Is live paella right for your event?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. 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 us?
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Fast service from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Drinks service on request
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Also near East Saltdean
Other catering in East Saltdean
Common questions in East Saltdean
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is East Saltdean close to London?
About 48 miles from central London, and well within our area.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Absolutely.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Do you provide serving staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
How many tapas per person?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more and we’ll advise.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Add sangria or cava
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Include staff for canapés
Each dish is labelled.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Step by step
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. At midsummer, it’s light in East Saltdean until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- A spot for our serving station
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- 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