East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Old Town, East Sussex
Looking for tapas catering in Old Town? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Tapas before paella
- Sharing tapas starters
- Welcome-drink canapés
Live tapas catering in Old Town
DIY paella versus live catering
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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Tapas catering for your event in Old Town
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. We’re frequently asked to cater cocktail parties and engagement parties, serving gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and patatas bravas.
Tapas make a party in Old Town easy and sociable. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Old Town (BN21, BN20, BN22)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
What’s in the pans
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and generally vegetarian.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
How it works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it’s light in Old Town until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
Questions from Old Town
Which station should guests use for Old Town?
The closest is Eastbourne station, roughly 0.7 miles away.
How far is Old Town from London?
About 53 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Do you come to Old Town?
Yes, we do. Old Town is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Events we cater in Old Town
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Old Town:
- Work receptions
- Evening grazing
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement parties
A picnic in Gildrege Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Staff numbers and hours
- The deadline for final numbers
- If the price includes VAT
Old Town: venues and local tips
Old Town is about 1 mile south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. For an event in Old Town, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Old Town. We cover 289 places in East Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Old Town to Brighton (about 18 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Eastbourne station is about 0.7 miles away. Historic buildings near Old Town frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Old Town, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
For tapas catering in BN21, BN20 and BN22, we plan around your venue and timings. Whether your event is on Love Lane, Mill Road and Greys Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Upperton (1 mile east), Meads (1 mile south), Eastbourne (1 mile north-east), Holywell (1 mile south) and Ratton Village (1 mile north). Further out, we also cater in Hastings (15 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (13 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Eastbourne District General Hospital (1 mile north) and Pevensey Castle (4.4 miles north-east). The countryside around Old Town includes Combe Hill.
- Schools near Old Town include WMG Academy for Young Engineers (less than half a mile south) and Motcombe Infants' School (less than half a mile north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Lamb Inn (less than half a mile east)
What we need at the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you. The main points are:
- Unloading access
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
Also near Old Town
What else we do in Old Town
Why choose live paella in Old Town?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why us?
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- 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