East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Heathfield, East Sussex
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Heathfield and across East Sussex.
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Heathfield
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Space for a serving table or station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
Tapas catering in Heathfield, made fresh on the day
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they’re great on their own. We’re often asked to cater tapas and paella menus and drinks parties and receptions, serving Serrano ham, padrón peppers and croquetas.
Tapas make a party in Heathfield easy and sociable. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Location
- Heathfield (TN21)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near Heathfield
More for events in Heathfield
Why choose tapas catering in Heathfield?
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Heathfield:
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Canapés with welcome drinks
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Heathfield, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Before booking anyone
- Who provides the crockery
- How late numbers can change
- What happens if it rains
- If the price includes VAT
What affects the price in Heathfield
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many staff you need
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The courses you’d like
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
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.
Planning a tapas spread in Heathfield
Heathfield is about 7 miles north of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Anywhere in TN21, we will come to your venue or garden. We cover 289 places across East Sussex. Our events stretch from Heathfield to Brighton (about 19 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Richards Church. Heathfield is within about 4 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the TN21 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Upper Station Road, Station Road and High Street or the roads around them. You will find Heathfield on the A265 and A267, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. If your venue is just outside Heathfield, we also cover Sandy Cross (1 mile south), Old Heathfield (1 mile east), Cade Street (1 mile east), Maynard's Green (1 mile south) and Broad Oak (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (12 miles south), Hastings (15 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles south-east), Seaford (15 miles south-west), Lewes (12 miles south-west) and Hailsham (7 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Sussex Farm Museum (2.3 miles south) and Old Castle (4.5 miles east). Open spaces near Heathfield include Selwyns Wood.
- Schools near Heathfield include Heathfield Community College (1 mile east)
- Pubs nearby include Runt-in-Tun pub (0.8 miles south)
Heathfield questions
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Is Heathfield close to London?
About 40 miles from central London, and well within our area.
How much tapas do we need?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Give us the details and we’ll advise.
How much does tapas catering cost in Heathfield?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, including East Sussex. Find your area.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Step by step
Here’s how the day usually runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Sunset in Heathfield is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- 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 pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
How to get a price
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Heathfield, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Include staff for canapés
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Bar staff and sangria.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
- 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