East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Pett events
Planning tapas catering in Pett? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Engagement parties
- Tapas starters
Tapas catering in Pett
Tapas catering in Pett, cooked live
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We are often asked to cater tapas and paella menus and sharing tapas starters, with tortilla española, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Pett, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Location
- Pett (TN35)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Include staff for canapés
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Serving boards and crockery.
Nearby places to Pett
Other catering in Pett
Pett: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at St Mary & St Peter: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like Pett?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Pett.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Parking near the venue
- Room for a tapas table
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
Tapas for events in Pett
Pett is about 5 miles east of Hastings, in East Sussex. Events in Pett are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex. Our events stretch from Pett to Canterbury (about 32 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Three Oaks station is about 2.5 miles away. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Mary & St Peter. With the sea within about 5 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Anywhere in TN35, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Elms Lane, Pett Road and Chick Hill or the roads around them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Fairlight Cove (1 mile south), Friar's Hill (1 mile west), Guestling Green (2 miles west), Fairlight (2 miles south-west) and Guestling (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Hastings (5 miles west), Bexhill-on-Sea (9 miles west), St Leonards (6 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (4 miles south-west), Belmont (4 miles south-west) and Hollington (5 miles west).
A little further out are Conquest Hospital (4.5 miles west) and Winchelsea Court Hall Museum (2.7 miles north-east). Not far away are Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Pubs nearby include The Royal Oak Inn (less than half a mile north-west)
Events we cater in Pett
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Pett book us for occasions like:
- Cocktail parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement parties
Nearby historic houses include Lamb House (4.7 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Questions to ask before you book
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether VAT is included
- Space, access and power needs
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why choose Love Paella in Pett
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Events in Pett and across East Sussex
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests usually gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Evening receptions in Pett stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
- 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