East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Rock-a-Nore events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Rock-a-Nore: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering near Rock-a-Nore
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Venue approval for outside catering
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
How our tapas catering works in Rock-a-Nore
Tapas are made for sharing and talking over. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. Whether it is tapas with a paella main course and drinks reception canapés, we can cook Manchego with membrillo, albóndigas and padrón peppers.
For a party in a place like Rock-a-Nore, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Location
- Rock-a-Nore (TN34, TN35)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Questions from Rock-a-Nore
Is Rock-a-Nore close to London?
Roughly 54 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Sunset in Rock-a-Nore is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Tapas for events in Rock-a-Nore
Rock-a-Nore is about 2 miles south-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. Wherever your event is in the TN34 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Rock-a-Nore is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. We cook right across the region, from Rock-a-Nore to Brighton (32 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel. Parks such as Linton Gardens have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. The coast is within about a mile, so garlic prawns are popular.
Anywhere in TN34 and TN35, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Crown Lane, Croft Road and Queens Road or the roads around them. We also cook at events in Hastings Old Town (1 mile north-west), Belmont (1 mile north-west), America Ground (1 mile west), Blacklands (1 mile north-west) and St Helen's (1 mile north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (14 miles west), Bexhill-on-Sea (6 miles west), Hailsham (15 miles west), Polegate (15 miles west), Upper Horsebridge (15 miles west) and Langney (13 miles west).
A little further out are Flower Makers Museum (under half a mile west) and Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (0.6 miles west). Not far away are Church Wood and Robsack Wood.
- Local schools include University School (1 mile west) and William Parker Sports College (1.8 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Dolphin pub (within half a mile west)
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Who books tapas catering in Rock-a-Nore?
Big or small, tapas work.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversary parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Rock-a-Nore, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Before booking anyone
- The deadline for final numbers
- Payment terms and deposit
- VAT, if it applies
- The venue requirements
Paella compared with other options
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- We cover Rock-a-Nore and the whole of East Sussex
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Also near Rock-a-Nore
What else we do in Rock-a-Nore
What affects the price in Rock-a-Nore
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- The length of service
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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