East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Telscombe Cliffs, East Sussex
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Telscombe Cliffs and across East Sussex.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
Planning an event in Telscombe Cliffs?
Tapas catering in Telscombe Cliffs, cooked live
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. On the menu are tortilla española, albóndigas and Serrano ham, and we are regularly asked to cater engagement drinks and birthday drinks.
Tapas make a party in Telscombe Cliffs easy and sociable. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Where
- Telscombe Cliffs (BN10)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Occasions we cook for in Telscombe Cliffs
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
- Receptions and drinks parties
For guests coming by train, Newhaven Town station is about 2.9 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The wet-weather plan
- The deposit and payment dates
How the day works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. A summer drinks reception in Telscombe Cliffs has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, use our quote form.
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Common questions in Telscombe Cliffs
We’re having a ceremony at Ascension Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
How much does tapas catering cost in Telscombe Cliffs?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do you provide serving staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Nearby places to Telscombe Cliffs
Also in Telscombe Cliffs
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:
- Space on each table
- Space for a serving table or station
- Permission from the venue
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Telscombe Cliffs
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
Planning a tapas spread in Telscombe Cliffs
Telscombe Cliffs is about 3 miles west of Newhaven, in East Sussex. For tapas catering in Telscombe Cliffs, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Telscombe Cliffs is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 6 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Monk's House (3 miles north-east) and Anne of Cleves House (4.9 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Telscombe Cliffs, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Telscombe Cliffs, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about 6 miles, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Wherever your event is in BN10, we can bring tapas catering to you. From Park Avenue, Ambleside Avenue and Park View Rise or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Telscombe (1 mile north), Peacehaven (1 mile east), East Saltdean (1 mile west), Saltdean (1 mile west) and Piddinghoe (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (13 miles east), Seaford (5 miles east), Lewes (5 miles north), Hailsham (12 miles east), Uckfield (13 miles north-east) and Newhaven (3 miles east).
A little further out are Planet Earth Museum (2.8 miles east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (3.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Itford Hill and Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Peacehaven Community School (0.6 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Smugglers Rest pub (0.6 miles west)
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Collect dietary needs
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Sangria and bar staff.
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Live paella or other catering?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why Telscombe Cliffs hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Drinks service on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
- 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