East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Iford events
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Iford and East Sussex, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
Book tapas catering in Iford
Tapas catering in Iford, cooked live
We’ll suggest a selection to suit your timings and guests, starter or main event. Typical bookings include anniversary parties and office parties and launches, with Serrano ham, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo.
Near Iford, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Location
- Iford (BN7)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many guests are eating
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
- The venue or postcode
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Permission from the venue
- Room for a tapas table
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Iford
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
What else we do in Iford
Questions from Iford
How far is Iford from London?
Roughly 45 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Do you cover Iford?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Iford is within our area and the rest of East Sussex. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Do you provide serving staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
For event organisers in Iford
Organising a club, school or community event in Iford? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Sunset in Iford is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Why choose live paella in Iford?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Receptions and parties in Iford
Iford is about 2 miles south of Lewes, in East Sussex. Anywhere in BN7, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Iford is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Lewes station, about 1.7 miles north-east. Nearby historic houses include Monk's House (1.4 miles south-east) and Anne of Cleves House (1.5 miles north-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Iford is within about 2 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Tapas catering in BN7 is planned around your venue and timings. Other places close to Iford for tapas catering include Kingston near Lewes (1 mile north-west), Northease (1 mile south-east), Rodmell (1 mile south-east), Southover (2 miles north-east) and Lewes (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (14 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south-east), Hailsham (12 miles east), Uckfield (10 miles north-east), Newhaven (5 miles south-east) and Peacehaven (4 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Lewes Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club Museum (3.3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Offham Hill and Southerham Farm.
- Schools near Iford include Priory School (1.7 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Juggs Arms Public House (0.7 miles north-west)
- Local facilities include Kingston Urban (1.2 miles north)
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Label seafood clearly
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Each dish is labelled.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
- 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