West Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Hickstead
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hickstead. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Work receptions
- Table tapas as a starter
Book tapas catering in Hickstead
Tapas catering in Hickstead, cooked live
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. Whether it is table tapas as a starter and office parties and launches, we can cook Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and padrón peppers for your guests.
Near Hickstead, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
- Area
- Hickstead (RH17, BN6)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Who books tapas catering in Hickstead?
Tapas get people talking.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Hickstead book us for occasions like:
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Table tapas as a starter
Historic buildings near Hickstead often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- What happens if it rains
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- What the price includes, item by item
- Staff numbers and hours
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Organising a club, school or community event in Hickstead? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- The number of people
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- 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.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Your questions about tapas catering in Hickstead
Is Hickstead too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Hickstead close to London?
Roughly 37 miles from the centre of London.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Yes. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including West Sussex. See all areas.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Ensure dishes are labelled
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Tapas for events in Hickstead
Hickstead is about 3 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Hickstead and the surrounding area. We cook in 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 10 miles away.
Historic houses near Hickstead include Ockenden Manor (3.4 miles north-east) and Tyes Place (5 miles north). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. For guests coming by train, Burgess Hill station is about 3.1 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Hickstead, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in RH17 and BN6, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. If your venue is just outside Hickstead, we also cover Goddards Green (1 mile east), Sayers Common (1 mile south), Abbotsford (2 miles east), Ansty (2 miles north-east) and Hurstpierpoint (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (9 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (3 miles east) and East Grinstead (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include The Dene Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Clayton Castle (4.6 miles south-east). Open spaces near Hickstead include Wolstonbury Hill and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Hickstead include St Paul's Catholic College (1.8 miles east)
About the dishes
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Places near Hickstead
Also in Hickstead
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. A summer drinks reception in Hickstead has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Get a quote
Planning tapas catering in Hickstead? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
- 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