East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in North Chailey, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in North Chailey. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Drinks parties and receptions
Book tapas catering in North Chailey
Tapas catering for your event in North Chailey
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Popular choices include Serrano ham, albóndigas and gambas al ajillo, and we are often booked for office parties and launches and anniversary parties.
In a rural spot like North Chailey, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- North Chailey (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Also near North Chailey
Also in North Chailey
Drinks receptions around North Chailey
North Chailey is about 4 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. For tapas catering in North Chailey, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. North Chailey is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from North Chailey to Brighton (about 11 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of Our Lady, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. If you are looking at a historic venue around North Chailey, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. North Chailey is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over BN8. Local streets include Station Road, Downs View and Downs View Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. You’ll find North Chailey on the A275, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. We also cook at events in Chailey (1 mile south), Newick (1 mile east), South Street (2 miles south), Founthill (2 miles east) and Scaynes Hill (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Seaford (15 miles south), Lewes (7 miles south), Hailsham (14 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (13 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Heaven Farm Museum (3.4 miles north) and Waterbury Castle (4.7 miles north). Open spaces near North Chailey include Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
- Schools near North Chailey include Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles south) and Chailey School (2.3 miles south)
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Check diets in advance
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Include staff for canapés
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Perfect for your event in North Chailey
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Tapas before paella
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Receptions and drinks parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Plumpton station, about 3.6 miles south-west.
Before you book anyone
- How long the team stays
- When payment is due
- The wet-weather plan
- If the price includes VAT
How the day works
Here’s how the day typically runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Sunset in North Chailey is around 9:20pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Planning tapas catering in North Chailey? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in North Chailey
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and time of the event
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
North Chailey: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Is North Chailey too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Do you provide serving staff?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Permission from the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Unloading access
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- 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