East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in St Leonards, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in St Leonards. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Tapas catering near St Leonards
How the day works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. A summer drinks reception in St Leonards has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Give us a contact for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Tapas catering in St Leonards, made fresh on the day
We finish hot tapas on site, so they’re served at their best. For table tapas as a starter and evening sharing boards, we will put together a menu of albóndigas, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
In St Leonards, tapas and paella together make a complete menu. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Where
- St Leonards (TN38, TN37, TN34)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near St Leonards
Other catering in St Leonards
Should I cook it 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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Whether you need crockery
- How many courses
- The paellas you choose
- How many staff you need
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Events we cater in St Leonards
They’re the classic starter before paella.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Cocktail parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Evening sharing boards
- Tapas starters
For guests coming by train, St Leonards Warrior Square station is in St Leonards itself.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
- What happens if it rains
Questions from St Leonards
We are having a ceremony at St John the Evangelist's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is St Leonards from London?
Roughly 53 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Do you cover St Leonards?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including St Leonards and the rest of East Sussex. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Are the tapas fresh?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Bar staff and sangria.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Paella compared with other options
For food that gets people mingling, tapas are hard to beat. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in St Leonards
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A clear, itemised quote
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Manchego & membrillo
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
Receptions and parties in St Leonards
St Leonards is about 1 mile south-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. For tapas catering in St Leonards, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. St Leonards is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from St Leonards to Brighton (about 30 miles away).
Parks such as Summerfields Wood have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. Historic buildings near St Leonards frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. The coast is within about 2 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
Wherever your event is in TN38, TN37 and TN34, we can cook for your guests. From Sea Road, Fern Road and Dane Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Being close to the A259 and A2102, St Leonards is easy for us to reach. Close by, we cover events in Silverhill (1 mile north), Hastings (1 mile north-east), America Ground (1 mile east), Bulverhythe (1 mile west) and Hollington (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (13 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (4 miles west), Hailsham (13 miles west), Polegate (13 miles west), Old Town (14 miles south-west) and Heathfield (15 miles north-west). St Leonards is among the bigger towns we cover in East Sussex, with plenty of venues for events.
Other landmarks nearby include Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (1.2 miles east) and Conquest Hospital (2.2 miles north). Open spaces near St Leonards include Church Wood and Robsack Wood and Senlac Hill.
- Schools near St Leonards include The St Leonards Academy (0.8 miles west) and University School (0.9 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Horse And Groom Public House (within half a mile south-east)
- 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