East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Rye, East Sussex
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 turns food into part of your event in Rye.
- Anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
- Sharing tapas starters
Live tapas catering in Rye
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Tapas catering in Rye, cooked live
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. Popular choices include Manchego with membrillo, tortilla española and patatas bravas, and we’re often booked for drinks reception canapés and evening grazing.
Around Rye, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Rye (TN31)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Label seafood clearly
- Include staff for canapés
- Collect dietary needs
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Crockery and serving dishes.
More for events in Rye
How we price tapas catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Whether you need crockery
- Travel, parking and access
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Anything your venue supplies
- Where the event is
- A picture of where we’d cook
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- A spot for our serving station
- Venue approval for outside catering
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. At midsummer, it is light in Rye until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. 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 suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Is live paella right for your event?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What you get with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Fast service from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Planning a tapas spread in Rye
Rye is about 9 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Rye and the surrounding area. We cook in all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 27 miles away.
Historic houses near Rye include Lamb House (within half a mile south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Rye, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The coast is within about a mile, so garlic prawns are popular.
Anywhere in TN31, we can bring tapas catering to you. We can cater an event on streets such as Market Road, High Street and Market Street. Rye sits on or near the A259 and A268, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. We also cook at events in Playden (1 mile north), East Guldeford (1 mile north-east), Rye Harbour (1 mile south-east), Houghton Green (1 mile north) and Rye Foreign (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Hastings (9 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-west), St Leonards (10 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (9 miles south-west), Belmont (9 miles south-west) and Hollington (10 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Ypres Tower (less than half a mile east) and Rye Castle Museum (East Street) (less than half a mile east). Green spaces nearby include Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Rye College (less than half a mile north)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Old Bell Inn (within half a mile south-west)
Occasions we cook for in Rye
Big or small, tapas work.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Tapas and paella menus
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Welcome-drink canapés
Parks such as Rye Harbour LNR have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Comparing caterers
- The deadline for final numbers
- What happens if it rains
- Travel and parking costs
- A clear list of what’s included
Common questions in Rye
Could we have live paella in Rye Harbour LNR?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is Rye close to London?
About 52 miles from central London.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Do you cover Rye?
We do. Rye is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
- 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