East Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Upperton, East Sussex
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Upperton.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering for Upperton events
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Room for a tapas table
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Unloading access
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
How our tapas catering works in Upperton
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings in and around Upperton. Popular choices include croquetas, padrón peppers and gambas al ajillo, and typical bookings are for welcome-drink canapés and office parties and launches.
In Upperton, tapas work at home or in a local hall. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
- Area
- Upperton (BN21, BN22, BN20)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Make sure dishes are labelled
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Each dish is labelled.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Nearby places to Upperton
What else we do in Upperton
How the day works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, it is light in Upperton until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, frequently with alioli.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Upperton questions
Can you cook near the sea around Upperton?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
How far is Upperton from London?
About 53 miles from central London.
What does tapas catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Can we add drinks?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Which areas do you serve?
We cater across London and the South East, East Sussex included. Find your area.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
How we price tapas catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Parking and unloading
- The paellas you choose
- How long we are needed on site
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Where the event is
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Perfect for your event in Upperton
Big or small, tapas work.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Upperton and East Sussex:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Table tapas as a starter
- Launches and office parties
Guests travelling by rail: Eastbourne station is in Upperton itself.
Comparing caterers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether VAT is included
- A clear list of what’s included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Planning a tapas spread in Upperton
Upperton is about 1 mile south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. For an event in Upperton, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Upperton. We cook in 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 18 miles away.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Upperton, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Upperton, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. With the sea within about a mile, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN21, BN22 and BN20, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Love Lane, Hyde Road and York Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. You’ll find Upperton on the A2021 and A2040, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. For events just outside Upperton, we cover Old Town (1 mile west), Eastbourne (1 mile north-east), Meads (1 mile south), Holywell (1 mile south) and Ratton Village (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Hastings (14 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (14 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north) and St Leonards (13 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Eastbourne District General Hospital (0.9 miles north-west) and Pevensey Castle (4 miles north-east). Not far away are Combe Hill.
- Local schools include Gildredge House (0.5 miles south-west) and WMG Academy for Young Engineers (0.5 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Rainbow pub (within half a mile west)
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re 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 plan ahead.
- 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