East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Rodmell events
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Rodmell.
- Engagement celebrations
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas before paella
Book tapas catering in Rodmell
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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
About our tapas catering in Rodmell
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. For engagement celebrations and drinks parties and receptions, we can cook gambas al ajillo, padrón peppers and croquetas.
In a rural spot like Rodmell, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Rodmell (BN7)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, often with alioli.
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Label seafood clearly
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Also near Rodmell
Other catering in Rodmell
Occasions we cook for in Rodmell
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Rodmell and East Sussex:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas before paella
- Tapas starters
- Birthday and anniversary parties
After a ceremony at a church such as St Peter's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- Whether travel is included
- Staff numbers and hours
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How bad weather is handled
Rodmell: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Rodmell?
Southease station, about 0.9 miles east of the centre.
Can you cook in Lewes and Laughton Levels?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Can you cook indoors?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Absolutely, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Whether you need crockery
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
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.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Where the event is
- What the venue already provides
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Rodmell? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, use our quote form.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Sunset in Rodmell is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Name one person we can ask on the day
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Drinks receptions around Rodmell
Rodmell is about 3 miles south of Lewes, in East Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Rodmell and nearby villages. We cook in 289 places in East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Rodmell to Brighton (about 6 miles away).
Historic buildings near Rodmell often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. For guests coming by train, Southease station is about 0.9 miles away. The South Downs National Park is within about 3 miles of Rodmell, ideal for an outdoor reception. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Anywhere in BN7, we can cook for your guests. Whether your event is on Mill Lane, Badgers Dene and The Paddocks or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to Rodmell for tapas catering include Northease (1 mile north-west), Iford (1 mile north-west), Piddinghoe (2 miles south-east), Kingston near Lewes (2 miles north-west) and Telscombe (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (12 miles east), Seaford (6 miles south-east), Lewes (3 miles north), Hailsham (11 miles east), Uckfield (10 miles north-east) and Newhaven (3 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Lewes Castle (2.7 miles north) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (2.9 miles north). Not far away are Southerham Farm and Itford Hill.
- Local facilities include Southover Without (1.8 miles north)
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Rodmell? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Where we can cook in Rodmell
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space on each table
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Rodmell
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- 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