East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Upper Hartfield, East Sussex
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Upper Hartfield.
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement drinks
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering for Upper Hartfield events
Tapas catering in Upper Hartfield, made fresh on the day
The best spreads mix hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. Typical bookings include cocktail parties and drinks reception canapés, serving tortilla española, croquetas and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Upper Hartfield, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Upper Hartfield (TN7)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why us?
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- We cover Upper Hartfield and the whole of East Sussex
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Upper Hartfield? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch while it cooks. A summer drinks reception in Upper Hartfield has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Related guides
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Travel, parking and access
- Guest numbers
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The date and rough timings
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
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.
Places near Upper Hartfield
What else we do in Upper Hartfield
Upper Hartfield questions
Do you come out to small places like Upper Hartfield?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Upper Hartfield close to London?
About 29 miles from central London.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Yes, if you want them. Canapés need staff to serve.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Add a live paella main.
Perfect for your event in Upper Hartfield
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement celebrations
- Drinks parties and receptions
After a ceremony at a church such as Holy Trinity Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Questions to ask before you book
- Allergen information for each dish
- VAT, if it applies
- The wet-weather plan
- When payment is due
The menu, dish by dish
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Before you choose a spot
We will be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Space for a serving table or station
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
Planning a tapas spread in Upper Hartfield
Upper Hartfield is about 5 miles north-west of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Events in Upper Hartfield are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Upper Hartfield is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 20 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Bassetts Manor (1.9 miles north) and Hammerwood Park (2.9 miles north-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Ashurst Kent station, about 3.7 miles north-east. Upper Hartfield is within about 3 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
For tapas catering in TN7, we plan around your venue and your guests. We can cater an event on streets such as Parrock Lane, Cat Street and Gallipot Hill. For events just outside Upper Hartfield, we cover Coleman's Hatch (1 mile south-west), Forest Row (2 miles west), Wych Cross (3 miles south-west), Duddleswell (4 miles south) and Chelwood Gate (4 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Lewes (15 miles south), Crowborough (5 miles south-east), Uckfield (9 miles south), South Malling (15 miles south), Heathfield (11 miles south-east) and Cliffe (15 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Bolebroke Castle (2 miles north-east) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (4.2 miles 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