East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Playden events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Playden.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Launches and office parties
Book tapas catering in Playden
Tapas catering for your event in Playden
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Typical bookings include evening grazing and anniversary parties, serving albóndigas, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Playden, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Location
- Playden (TN31)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Tapas for events in Playden
Playden is about 10 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. For tapas catering in Playden, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Playden. We cover all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Playden to Canterbury (27 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Rye station is about 0.7 miles away. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Parish Church of St Michael. With the sea within about a mile, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Wherever your event is in TN31, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Rectory Lane, New England Lane and Saltcote Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Playden, we also cover Houghton Green (1 mile north-east), East Guldeford (1 mile east), Rye (1 mile south), Iden (1 mile north) and Rye Foreign (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (10 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-west), St Leonards (11 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (10 miles south-west), Belmont (10 miles south-west) and Hollington (10 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Ypres Tower (0.9 miles south) and Rye Castle Museum (East Street) (0.8 miles south). The countryside around Playden includes Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Rye College (0.6 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find Kings Head Inn (under half a mile south)
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Waiting staff for canapés.
For event organisers in Playden
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Perfect for your event in Playden
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Playden book us for occasions like:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Engagement drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Anniversary parties
Historic houses near Playden include Lamb House (0.9 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before booking anyone
- Who provides the crockery
- When payment is due
- How bad weather is handled
- Staff numbers and hours
Why choose live paella in Playden?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What you get with us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The length of service
- Distance and access to the venue
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Guest numbers
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Anything your venue supplies
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
What happens on the day
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. A summer drinks reception in Playden has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and typically vegetarian.
Also near Playden
Other catering in Playden
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
FAQs for Playden
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Michael: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like Playden?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
How much does tapas catering cost in Playden?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
- 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