Brighton and Hove · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Hollingbury, Brighton and Hove
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Hollingbury and the surrounding area.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Office parties and launches
- Engagement celebrations
Live tapas catering in Hollingbury
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Parking near the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Room for a tapas table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
Tapas catering in Hollingbury, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. Typical bookings include tapas starters and launches and office parties, serving padrón peppers, croquetas and albóndigas.
For a party in a place like Hollingbury, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
- Where
- Hollingbury (BN1)
- Area hub
- Brighton and Hove
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The length of service
- Travel, parking and access
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.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The venue or postcode
- Anything your venue supplies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Your questions about tapas catering in Hollingbury
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Is Hollingbury close to London?
Roughly 44 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you cater in Hollingbury?
Yes, we do. Hollingbury is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What about pudding?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How much tapas do we need?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. At midsummer, it is light in Hollingbury until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s 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.
Planners, venues and businesses
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Collect dietary needs
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Also near Hollingbury
Other catering in Hollingbury
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For food that gets people mingling, tapas work brilliantly. 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 Hollingbury hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Real theatre, not just catering
- A quote that spells everything out
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Drinks receptions around Hollingbury
Hollingbury is about 2 miles north of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. For an event in Hollingbury, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Hollingbury. We cover 30 places in Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
Nearby historic houses include Preston Manor & Gardens (1.4 miles south-west) and Royal Pavilion (2.6 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Historic buildings near Hollingbury often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Hollingbury, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 3 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Here we cover the BN1 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Keymer Road, Warmdene Road and Carden Avenue. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Patcham (1 mile west), Withdean (1 mile south-west), Hollingdean (1 mile south), Preston (1 mile south-west) and Westdene (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Brighton and Hove (3 miles south-west), Hove (3 miles south-west), Brunswick (3 miles south), Kemptown (3 miles south), Whitehawk (3 miles south-east) and Aldrington (3 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Brighton General Hospital (2.1 miles south) and Churchill Square (2.6 miles south). The countryside around Hollingbury includes Ladies Mile and Ditchling Beacon.
- Local schools include The Dharma Primary School (0.5 miles north-west) and Patcham High School (0.6 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find County Oak pub (under half a mile north-east)
- Other local spots include University of Sussex Library (1.9 miles east)
- 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