East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Upper Horsebridge events
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Upper Horsebridge and East Sussex, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Evening grazing
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
Tapas catering near Upper Horsebridge
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Tapas catering in Upper Horsebridge, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. We cook patatas bravas, albóndigas and croquetas, and we are often booked for work receptions and canapés with welcome drinks.
Around Upper Horsebridge, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Location
- Upper Horsebridge (BN27)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. A summer drinks reception in Upper Horsebridge 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.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
Common questions in Upper Horsebridge
What’s the nearest station to Upper Horsebridge for guests?
Polegate station, about 3.9 miles south of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Emmanuel?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Do you cook inside?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you. What matters most:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Access to unload near the serving area
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Spanish desserts to finish.
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The date and time of the event
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Upper Horsebridge, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Nearby places to Upper Horsebridge
What else we do in Upper Horsebridge
Planning a tapas spread in Upper Horsebridge
Upper Horsebridge is about 7 miles north of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. From the centre of Upper Horsebridge to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in 289 places across East Sussex. Our events stretch from Upper Horsebridge to Brighton (17 miles away).
If you are looking at a historic venue around Upper Horsebridge, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. After a ceremony at a church such as Emmanuel, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Upper Horsebridge, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Tapas catering in BN27 is planned around your venue. That could mean an event in a garden on New Road, Park Road and Hawks Road or the roads around them. With the A271 close by, Upper Horsebridge is simple for us to get to. If your venue is just outside Upper Horsebridge, we also cover Hellingly (1 mile north-east), Lower Horsebridge (1 mile west), Tile Hurst (1 mile south-west), Hailsham (1 mile south) and Magham Down (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (7 miles south), Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (9 miles east), Seaford (9 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles west) and Crowborough (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Hellingly Hospital Railway (0.7 miles north) and Sussex Farm Museum (3.9 miles north).
- Schools near Upper Horsebridge include Hailsham Community College (0.8 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Grenadier pub (0.9 miles south)
Paella compared with other options
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why choose Love Paella in Upper Horsebridge
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Perfect for your event in Upper Horsebridge
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Cocktail parties
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Horselunges Manor (0.6 miles north-west) and Michelham Priory (2.1 miles south-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Questions to ask before booking
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How bad weather is handled
- Payment terms and deposit
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
- 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