East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Polegate
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Polegate: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Drinks reception canapés
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Book tapas catering in Polegate
Organising for someone else?
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Organising a club, school or community event in Polegate? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Tapas catering for your event in Polegate
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. For drinks reception canapés and tapas and paella menus, we can cook croquetas, padrón peppers and gambas al ajillo.
Tapas make a party in Polegate easy and sociable. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Polegate (BN26)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Polegate 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 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- 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
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Live paella or other catering?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why book with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
Drinks receptions around Polegate
Polegate is about 3 miles south of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Tell us where your event in Polegate will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Polegate is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cook. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 17 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Polegate, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St John's Church of England Church. Polegate is within about 5 miles of the South Downs National Park, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about 5 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
We cook at events all over the BN26 postcode area. From Station Road, High Street and Church Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Main roads around Polegate include the A27 and A2270, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Nearby, we also cater events in Wannock (1 mile south-west), Lower Willingdon (1 mile south), Willingdon (1 mile south), Filching (2 miles south-west) and Folkington (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (3 miles south-east), Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles west) and Hailsham (3 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Burlough Castle (3.4 miles west) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.5 miles south). Open spaces near Polegate include Combe Hill.
- Nearby schools include Willingdon Community School (0.8 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include Horse & Groom pub (within half a mile south-west)
Polegate questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Is Polegate close to London?
Roughly 49 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Nearby places to Polegate
Other catering in Polegate
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Label seafood clearly
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Sangria and bar staff.
Perfect for your event in Polegate
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Polegate:
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
For guests coming by train, Polegate station is in Polegate itself.
Before booking anyone
- How long the team stays
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether VAT is included
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Unloading access
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
- 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