East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Shortgate
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Shortgate.
- Tapas starters
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
Book tapas catering in Shortgate
Tapas catering in Shortgate, cooked live
We will recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. Popular choices include gambas al ajillo, albóndigas and Serrano ham, and we’re often booked for drinks reception canapés and evening sharing boards.
For a country party near Shortgate, tapas and sangria set the mood. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Shortgate (BN8)
- County
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is 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.
The process
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Sunset in Shortgate is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Read more
Occasions we cook for in Shortgate
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Anniversary parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Drinks reception canapés
For guests coming by train, Uckfield station is about 3.9 miles away.
What your quote should include
- How bad weather is handled
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
Why choose live paella in Shortgate?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. 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.
Why us?
- Events in Shortgate and across East Sussex
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- No hidden extras in your quote
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Places near Shortgate
More for events in Shortgate
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Shortgate: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Shortgate?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
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 follow the site rules.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes, tapas work on their own, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many courses
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many staff you need
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Expected numbers
- The date and time of the event
- Diets and allergies you know about
- What the venue already provides
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Shortgate? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- Parking near the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
Planning a tapas spread in Shortgate
Shortgate is about 4 miles south of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Wherever your event is in the BN8 area, we can cook for your guests. Shortgate is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. We cook right across the region, from Shortgate to Brighton (12 miles away).
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Shortgate, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Historic houses near Shortgate include Glyndebourne (3.5 miles south-west) and Glynde Place (4 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Shortgate, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Anywhere in BN8, we can cook for your guests. If your venue is just outside Shortgate, we also cover Halland (1 mile north-east), East Hoathly (2 miles east), Whitesmith (2 miles east), Chiddingly (3 miles east) and Framfield (4 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (12 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south-west), Hailsham (7 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north) and Newhaven (9 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Uckfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Tickerage Castle (4.1 miles north). The countryside around Shortgate includes Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
- 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