East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Mayfield
Something 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 Mayfield.
- Tapas before paella
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Welcome-drink canapés
Live tapas catering in Mayfield
Tapas catering in Mayfield, cooked live
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they arrive hot. For evening grazing and anniversary parties, we can cook croquetas, gambas al ajillo and Serrano ham.
Near Mayfield, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Mayfield (TN20)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose live paella in Mayfield?
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Mayfield hosts choose us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Events in Mayfield and across East Sussex
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Drinks service on request
Places near Mayfield
Other catering in Mayfield
Receptions and parties in Mayfield
Mayfield is about 5 miles south-east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Mayfield, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Mayfield is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 21 miles away.
Historic houses near Mayfield include Wadhurst Castle (4.3 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Crowborough station, about 3.6 miles north-west. The High Weald National Landscape is within about a mile of Mayfield, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cook at events all over TN20 and the streets around it. Whether your event is on High Street, Station Road and Star Lane or a nearby road, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Wellbrook (1 mile south-west), Coggins Mill (1 mile north-east), Woolbridge (1 mile west), Argos Hill (1 mile north-west) and Rusher's Cross (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Bexhill-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Lewes (15 miles south-west), Hailsham (11 miles south), Crowborough (5 miles north-west), Uckfield (8 miles south-west) and Polegate (14 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (5 miles north-west). Not far away are Crowborough Country Park.
- Local schools include St Leonards-Mayfield School (within half a mile north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Royal Oak Inn (within half a mile north-west)
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Include staff for canapés
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Space for a serving table or station
- Access to unload near the serving area
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
What affects the price in Mayfield
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we are needed on site
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
- 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.
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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.
The process
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. At midsummer, it’s light in Mayfield until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Get a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Questions from Mayfield
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St. Dunstan: can you cater afterwards?
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.
Is Mayfield too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Are the tapas served hot?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
- 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