East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Lewes events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Lewes.
- Evening sharing boards
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement celebrations
Book tapas catering in Lewes
How the day works
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Sunset in Lewes 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 clear our equipment afterwards.
How to prepare
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Tapas catering in Lewes, made fresh on the day
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. Typical bookings include engagement parties and tapas and paella menus, serving albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and patatas bravas.
In Lewes, tapas and paella together make a complete menu. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
- Area
- Lewes (BN7, BN8, BN6, RH15)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near Lewes
More for events in Lewes
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns.
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Organising a club, school or community event in Lewes? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
What affects the price in Lewes
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The length of service
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- The venue or postcode
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Expected numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Tapas for events in Lewes
Lewes is about 7 miles north-east of Brighton, in East Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Lewes or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Lewes is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Lewes to Brighton (7 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Lewes, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Parks such as Railway Land have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Lewes is within about a mile of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in BN7, BN8, BN6 and RH15, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Market Lane, Market Street and High Street or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Being close to the A26 and A275, Lewes is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. For events just outside Lewes, we cover South Malling (1 mile north-east), Southover (1 mile south-east), Cliffe (1 mile east), Offham (1 mile north-west) and Hamsey (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (8 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south). Lewes is among the bigger towns we cover in East Sussex, with lots of choice for events.
A little further out are Lewes Castle (less than half a mile south) and St John under the Castle Lewes (less than half a mile north). Not far away are Offham Hill and Malling Down.
- Local schools include St Pancras Catholic Primary School (within half a mile south-west) and Priory School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include Elephant and Castle pub (within half a mile south-east)
Live paella or other catering?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why choose Love Paella in Lewes
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Lewes questions
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Which station should guests use for Lewes?
The closest is Lewes station, roughly 0.6 miles away.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Plenty are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Are the tapas fresh?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Collect dietary needs
- Add sangria or cava
Afterwards, we clear away.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Events we cater in Lewes
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Evening sharing boards
- Engagement celebrations
- Table tapas as a starter
- Work receptions
Historic houses near Lewes include Anne of Cleves House (0.6 miles south) and Glyndebourne (2.6 miles east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What your quote should include
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether travel is included
- If the price includes VAT
- When payment is due
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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.
- 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