East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in John's Cross, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in John's Cross. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas starters
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering in John's Cross
Tapas catering in John's Cross, made fresh on the day
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. On the menu are Manchego with membrillo, croquetas and gambas al ajillo, and we’re regularly asked to cater drinks reception canapés and evening sharing boards.
Near John's Cross, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- John's Cross (TN32)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- The length of service
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
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.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- The address or venue name
- The date and time of the event
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Receptions and parties in John's Cross
John's Cross is about 7 miles north-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. For tapas catering in John's Cross, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around John's Cross. John's Cross is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 28 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Durhamford Manor (2.1 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. If you’re looking at a historic venue around John's Cross, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of John's Cross, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in TN32, we can bring tapas catering to you. We can cater an event on streets such as Vinehall Road and John's Cross Road or the roads around them. For events just outside John's Cross, we cover Mountfield (1 mile south-west), Robertsbridge (2 miles north-west), Northbridge Street (2 miles north), Salehurst (2 miles north) and Netherfield (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (15 miles south-west), Hastings (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles south), Hailsham (12 miles south-west), Crowborough (15 miles north-west) and St Leonards (8 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Battle Museum of Local History (3.2 miles south). Open spaces near John's Cross include Senlac Hill.
- Nearby schools include Robertsbridge Community College (1.9 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find John's Cross Public House (less than half a mile west)
How the day works
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. At midsummer, it is light in John's Cross until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell 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 pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Common questions in John's Cross
Do you come out to small places like John's Cross?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of All Saints?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Staff make canapés work, which we can supply.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Is the paella gluten-free?
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.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Who books tapas catering in John's Cross?
Big or small, tapas work.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in John's Cross book us for occasions like:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday drinks
After a ceremony at a church such as The Parish Church of All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- The wet-weather plan
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Allergen information for each dish
- Staff numbers and hours
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Nearby places to John's Cross
Other catering in John's Cross
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Add sangria or cava
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Check diets in advance
Each dish is labelled.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Where we can cook in John's Cross
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A spot for our serving station
- Unloading access
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- 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