East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Etchingham events
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Etchingham and across East Sussex.
- Anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
Book tapas catering in Etchingham
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Tapas catering in Etchingham, made fresh on the day
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We are frequently asked to cater birthday and anniversary parties and evening grazing, with patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and tortilla española.
Near Etchingham, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
- Where
- Etchingham (TN19)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning a tapas spread in Etchingham
Etchingham is about 11 miles north-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. Events in Etchingham are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Etchingham to Brighton (28 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Parish Church of St Nicholas and St Mary. Guests travelling by rail: Etchingham has its own station, Etchingham station. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Etchingham, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of East Sussex takes in TN19, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on High Street, Oxenbridge Lane and Church Hill or a nearby road, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Burgh Hill (1 mile north-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-east), Silver Hill (2 miles east), Cooper's Corner (2 miles north-east) and Ticehurst (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (11 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-west), Crowborough (12 miles west), St Leonards (12 miles south-east) and Uckfield (15 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Ticehurst House Hospital (3.3 miles north-west). Not far away are Bewl Water.
- Nearby schools include Robertsbridge Community College (1.9 miles south-east)
Etchingham: your questions answered
What’s the nearest station to Etchingham for guests?
Etchingham has its own station: Etchingham station.
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Absolutely.
Do you cater in Etchingham?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Etchingham and the rest of East Sussex. To check your date, use our quote form.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Where we can cook in Etchingham
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Permission from the venue
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Space for a serving table or station
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Travel, parking and access
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The number of people
- The length of service
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- A quote that spells everything out
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Perfect for your event in Etchingham
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Engagement parties
- Tapas before paella
- Table tapas as a starter
- Launches and office parties
Nearby historic houses include Bateman's (2.8 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and parking costs
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
- The deposit and payment dates
The process
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. A summer drinks reception in Etchingham has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Read more
Nearby places to Etchingham
Also in Etchingham
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Include staff for canapés
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Table tapas are set down to share.
Bar staff and sangria.
- 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