East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Ripe
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 makes the food a highlight of your event in Ripe.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
Live tapas catering in Ripe
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Tapas catering in Ripe, cooked live
Sangria and bar staff can be added, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. Popular choices include croquetas, Serrano ham and patatas bravas, and we are regularly asked to cater table tapas as a starter and sharing boards for evening guests.
Near Ripe, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Ripe (BN8)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Parking near the venue
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Include staff for canapés
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Is live paella right for your event?
Generic canapés all look the same. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why book with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
How the day works
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. At midsummer, it is light in Ripe until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- 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.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Ripe: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Ripe?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Ripe from London?
About 45 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
How much does tapas catering cost in Ripe?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
How many tapas per person?
That depends on their role in the meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, East Sussex included. See all areas.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Nearby places to Ripe
More for events in Ripe
For planners, venues and organisers
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.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planning a tapas spread in Ripe
Ripe is about 5 miles west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Events in Ripe are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 12 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Ripe, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Parish Church of St John the Baptist. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Ripe, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cover events in every part of BN8 and the streets around it. Local streets include Carriage Mews, Channers Lane and Church Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Ripe, we also cover Selmeston (2 miles south), Wickstreet (2 miles south-east), Laughton (2 miles north), Golden Cross (2 miles north-east) and Berwick (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (8 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south), Lewes (6 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles east) and Crowborough (13 miles north).
A little further out are Hellingly Hospital Railway (5.1 miles east) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3 miles north-west). Open spaces near Ripe include Firle Beacon.
- Nearby, you will find Lamb Inn (under half a mile north-west)
- 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