East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Lower Dicker
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Lower Dicker: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests.
- Tapas before paella
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Lower Dicker
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
About our tapas catering in Lower Dicker
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. For drinks reception canapés and launches and office parties, we can cook padrón peppers, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo and more.
In a rural spot like Lower Dicker, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Where
- Lower Dicker (BN27)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Lower Dicker: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Lower Dicker?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Lower Dicker for guests?
The closest is Berwick (Sussex) station, roughly 3.9 miles away.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you come to Lower Dicker?
We do. We cook at events in Lower Dicker and across East Sussex. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Are the tapas served hot?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space on each table
- Space to finish hot dishes
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Lower Dicker
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
Tapas for events in Lower Dicker
Lower Dicker is about 2 miles north-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Across the BN27 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cook in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 16 miles away.
Historic buildings near Lower Dicker often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Guests travelling by rail: Berwick (Sussex) station is about 3.9 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Lower Dicker, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Tapas catering in BN27 is planned around your venue. Whether your event is on Hackhurst Lane, Diamond Drive and Court Lodge Close or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Lower Horsebridge (1 mile east), Nash Street (1 mile north-west), Tile Hurst (1 mile south-east), Upper Dicker (1 mile south-west) and Upper Horsebridge (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Hastings (15 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles east), Seaford (9 miles south-west), Lewes (9 miles west) and Crowborough (12 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Sussex Farm Museum (3.5 miles north) and Hellingly Hospital Railway (1.8 miles east).
- Nearby schools include Bede's Prep School (1.4 miles south-west) and Hailsham Community College (2 miles south-east)
Places near Lower Dicker
More for events in Lower Dicker
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Drinks service on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- We cover Lower Dicker and the whole of East Sussex
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Occasions we cook for in Lower Dicker
Tapas are sociable food, because everyone shares.
Whatever you are celebrating in Lower Dicker, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement drinks
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Zoar Strict Baptist Chapel.
Comparing caterers
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The venue requirements
- Whether travel is included
- How each diet is kept separate
What tapas catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The number of people
- Travel, parking and access
- The paellas you choose
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Lower Dicker, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Check diets in advance
Table tapas are set down to share.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
The process
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s served at its best. A summer drinks reception in Lower Dicker has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
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