East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Mark Cross, East Sussex
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Mark Cross.
- Engagement celebrations
- Evening sharing boards
- Drinks parties and receptions
Tapas catering in Mark Cross
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evening receptions in Mark Cross stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Mark Cross? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
About our tapas catering in Mark Cross
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Popular choices include tortilla española, albóndigas and croquetas, and typical bookings are for evening sharing boards and office parties and launches.
For a country party near Mark Cross, tapas and sangria set the mood. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- Mark Cross (TN6)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Perfect for your event in Mark Cross
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Marks.
What your quote should include
- The deposit and payment dates
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How each diet is kept separate
- How late numbers can change
FAQs for Mark Cross
Is Mark Cross close to London?
About 34 miles from central London.
What’s the nearest station to Mark Cross for guests?
Wadhurst station, about 2.5 miles east of the centre.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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.
What tapas catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Timings and hours
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Towns and villages near Mark Cross
What else we do in Mark Cross
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free when made carefully.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Tapas for events in Mark Cross
Mark Cross is about 4 miles east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Mark Cross and the surrounding area. We cater in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex. Our events stretch from Mark Cross to Brighton (23 miles away).
Historic houses near Mark Cross include Wadhurst Castle (3.2 miles east) and Groombridge Place (4.9 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Wadhurst station, about 2.5 miles east. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Mark Cross, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in TN6, we can cook for your guests. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Town Row (1 mile south-west), The Platt (2 miles north), Argos Hill (2 miles south-west), Rotherfield (2 miles south-west) and Rusher's Cross (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Hailsham (14 miles south), Crowborough (4 miles west), Uckfield (9 miles south-west), Heathfield (7 miles south), Upper Horsebridge (13 miles south) and Hellingly (12 miles south).
A little further out are Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (4.4 miles west). The countryside around Mark Cross includes Crowborough Country Park.
- Schools near Mark Cross include St Joseph Seminary (0.6 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Lazy Fox pub (under half a mile south)
Why choose live paella in Mark Cross?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel special. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Mark Cross hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Fast service from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Catering across East Sussex, including Mark Cross
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Include staff for canapés
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Make sure dishes are labelled
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Spanish desserts 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