East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Ridgewood events
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Ridgewood and East Sussex, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
Planning an event in Ridgewood?
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Tapas catering in Ridgewood, cooked live
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas. Popular choices include gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and Serrano ham, and we are often booked for sharing tapas starters and sharing boards for evening guests.
Around Ridgewood, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- Ridgewood (TN22)
- County
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near Ridgewood
More for events in Ridgewood
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. A summer drinks reception in Ridgewood has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
What affects the price in Ridgewood
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of the space, if you can
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Ridgewood? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Parking near the venue
- Room for a tapas table
- Venue approval for outside catering
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Ridgewood hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
- We cover Ridgewood and the whole of East Sussex
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Receptions and parties in Ridgewood
Ridgewood is about 1 mile south of Uckfield, in East Sussex. From the centre of Ridgewood to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 13 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Saviour. For guests coming by train, Uckfield station is about 0.8 miles away. Ridgewood is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over the TN22 postcode area and the streets around it. Streets in the area include New Road, Lewes Road and Wares Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Ridgewood for tapas catering include Little Horsted (1 mile south-west), Isfield (2 miles south-west), Budlett's Common (2 miles north), Rose Hill (2 miles south-west) and Maresfield (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (12 miles south), Lewes (7 miles south-west), Hailsham (9 miles south-east), Crowborough (7 miles north-east) and Newhaven (11 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Uckfield Community Hospital (0.7 miles north-east) and Tickerage Castle (2.4 miles east). Not far away are Brickfield Meadow.
- Schools near Ridgewood include Uckfield College (1.2 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Highlands pub (less than half a mile north)
Common questions in Ridgewood
We’re having a ceremony at St Saviour: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
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.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
What does tapas catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Add sangria or cava
- Label seafood clearly
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Check diets in advance
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
- 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