East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hailsham, East Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Hailsham.
- Anniversary parties
- Drinks reception canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
Book tapas catering in Hailsham
Tapas catering in Hailsham, made fresh on the day
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. Typical bookings include evening sharing boards and table tapas as a starter, with gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and padrón peppers.
In a town like Hailsham, tapas suit garden parties, hall parties and receptions. Hot tapas need a spot to finish them. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
- Where
- Hailsham (BN27)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Paella compared with other options
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Canapés need staff to serve
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Staff to serve canapés.
What affects the price in Hailsham
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- The paellas you choose
- Whether you need crockery
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Nearby places to Hailsham
Other catering in Hailsham
Step by step
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. A summer drinks reception in Hailsham has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hailsham, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Planning the cooking area
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
Your questions about tapas catering in Hailsham
What’s the nearest station to Hailsham for guests?
The closest is Polegate station, roughly 3 miles away.
How far is Hailsham from London?
About 46 miles from central London.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Of course. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Yes. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Who books tapas catering in Hailsham?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas before paella
- Work receptions
- Engagement drinks
Guests travelling by rail: Polegate station is about 3 miles away.
Before you book anyone
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
- How bad weather is handled
- The deadline for final numbers
Planning a tapas spread in Hailsham
Hailsham is about 6 miles north of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Wherever your event is in the BN27 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cater in 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 17 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of Saint Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic buildings near Hailsham frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Hailsham is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in BN27, we can bring tapas catering to you. Streets in the area include High Street, Market Place and Station Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Being close to the A271 and A295, Hailsham is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Tile Hurst (1 mile north-west), Upper Horsebridge (1 mile north), Hellingly (1 mile north), Lower Horsebridge (1 mile north-west) and Magham Down (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (6 miles south), Hastings (13 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (9 miles east), Seaford (9 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles west) and Crowborough (14 miles north). Hailsham is among the bigger towns we cover in East Sussex, with lots of choice for events.
A little further out are Herstmonceux Castle (3.6 miles east) and Amberstone Hospital (1.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Combe Hill.
- Local schools include White House Academy (under half a mile east)
- Nearby, you will find The Grenadier pub (under half a mile north)
- 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