East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering for Vines Cross events
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Vines Cross and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas with a paella main course
Tapas catering for Vines Cross events
Tapas catering in Vines Cross, cooked live
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas. Popular choices include padrón peppers, tortilla española and patatas bravas, and typical bookings are for work receptions and canapés with welcome drinks.
Near Vines Cross, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- Vines Cross (TN21)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
A closer look at the menu
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. A summer drinks reception in Vines Cross has daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:00pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Is live paella right for your event?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why us?
- Drinks service on request
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Perfect for your event in Vines Cross
Big or small, tapas work.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas starters
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like The Parish Church of St Mary.
What to look for in a quote
- How bad weather is handled
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- A clear list of what’s included
- How late numbers can change
Your questions about tapas catering in Vines Cross
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Vines Cross too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Venue approval for outside catering
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Also near Vines Cross
Other catering in Vines Cross
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Send us the date, your venue or TN21 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Vines Cross: venues and local tips
Vines Cross is about 5 miles north of Hailsham, in East Sussex. We bring tapas catering to homes, gardens and venues in Vines Cross and the surrounding area. We cook in 289 places across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Vines Cross to Brighton (about 19 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Horselunges Manor (3.6 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. If you are looking at a historic venue around Vines Cross, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Vines Cross, ideal for an outdoor reception.
For tapas catering in TN21, we plan around your venue. Nearby, we also cater events in Warbleton (1 mile north-east), Horam (1 mile west), Maynard's Green (1 mile north-west), Burlow (2 miles south-west) and Old Heathfield (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (10 miles south), Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Seaford (13 miles south-west), Lewes (12 miles west) and Hailsham (5 miles south).
A little further out are Old Castle (3.9 miles east) and Sussex Farm Museum (1.1 miles west). Open spaces near Vines Cross include Selwyns Wood.
- Local schools include Heathfield Community College (2.2 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The Brewers Arms (within half a mile north)
- 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