East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in St Helen's
Something 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 St Helen's.
- Anniversary parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Evening sharing boards
Tapas catering for St Helen's events
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Tapas catering in St Helen's, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Whether it is tapas starters and evening sharing boards, we can cook gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and albóndigas.
In St Helen's, tapas work at home or in a local hall. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Where
- St Helen's (TN34, TN37)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Travel, parking and access
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
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
- A picture of where we’d cook
- What the venue already provides
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Towns and villages near St Helen's
More for events in St Helen's
Planning a tapas spread in St Helen's
St Helen's is about 1 mile north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. For tapas catering in St Helen's, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around St Helen's. St Helen's is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 31 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Ore station, about 0.8 miles south-east. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Peter & St Paul. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
We cook at events all over the TN34 and TN37 postcode area and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Park Avenue, Keppel Road and Down's Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to St Helen's for tapas catering include Blacklands (1 mile south), Hastings (1 mile south-west), Silverhill (1 mile south-west), Belmont (1 mile south-east) and Hollington (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (14 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (5 miles west), Hailsham (14 miles west), Polegate (15 miles west), Old Town (15 miles south-west) and Heathfield (15 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (1.2 miles south) and Hastings Old Town Hall Museum (1.3 miles south-east). Open spaces near St Helen's include Church Wood and Robsack Wood and Senlac Hill.
- Nearby schools include William Parker Sports College (within half a mile west) and University School (1.3 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Duke pub (0.9 miles west)
Where we can cook in St Helen's
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space for a serving table or station
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
Live paella or other catering?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
What you get with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Drinks service on request
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Questions from St Helen's
Is St Helen's close to London?
About 52 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
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.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on timing and courses. Tell us more for a suggestion.
Are the tapas served hot?
Hot tapas are finished on site so they’re served at their best.
For event organisers in St Helen's
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in St Helen's? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Add sangria or cava
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Check diets in advance
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Afterwards, we clear away.
Bar staff and sangria.
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
How it works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. Evening receptions in St Helen's stay light until about 8:45pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Planning tapas catering in St Helen's? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
- 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