Brighton and Hove · England
Tapas Catering in Falmer
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Falmer. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Tapas before paella
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering near Falmer
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Falmer? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
About our tapas catering in Falmer
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. Whether it’s birthday and anniversary parties and work receptions, we will put together a menu of croquetas, albóndigas and patatas bravas for your guests.
In a rural spot like Falmer, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Falmer (BN1)
- County
- Brighton and Hove
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Label seafood clearly
- Add sangria or cava
Each dish is labelled.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Unloading access
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
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. A summer drinks reception in Falmer has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or BN1 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.
Related guides
How we price tapas catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many guests are eating
- How many staff you need
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Parking and unloading
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and rough timings
- The courses you’d like
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Falmer questions
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 work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Falmer for guests?
Falmer station, in Falmer itself.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Brighton and Hove included. Find your area.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Why choose live paella in Falmer?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Towns and villages near Falmer
Other catering in Falmer
Falmer: venues and local tips
Falmer is about 3 miles north-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. For an event in Falmer, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. Falmer is one of 30 towns and villages in Brighton and Hove where we cook.
After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of St Lawrence, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Falmer, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The South Downs National Park is within about 4 miles of Falmer, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 5 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
For tapas catering in BN1, we plan around your venue and your guests. From Middle Street, Park Street and Mill Street or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Kingston near Lewes (2 miles east), Iford (3 miles east), Ovingdean (3 miles south), Rottingdean (3 miles south) and Roedean (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Brighton (3 miles south-west), Brighton and Hove (5 miles west), Hove (5 miles south-west), Carlton Hill (4 miles south-west), Hanover (3 miles south-west) and West Hill (4 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club Museum (less than half a mile south-west) and Lewes Castle (3.8 miles east). The countryside around Falmer includes Bevendean Down and Newmarket Hill.
- Local pubs include The Swan Inn (under half a mile west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include University of Sussex Library (0.5 miles 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