Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Appleton, Oxfordshire
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Appleton.
- Evening sharing boards
- Office parties and launches
- Drinks reception canapés
Tapas catering near Appleton
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Unloading access
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Space to finish hot dishes
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
Tapas catering in Appleton, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. For welcome-drink canapés and work receptions, we will put together a menu of patatas bravas, Manchego with membrillo and gambas al ajillo and more.
Near Appleton, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Appleton (OX13)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Occasions we cook for in Appleton
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Appleton and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Anniversary parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Launches and office parties
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Appleton, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- Staff numbers and hours
- Payment terms and deposit
- What happens if it rains
- If the price includes VAT
Towns and villages near Appleton
More for events in Appleton
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and generally vegetarian.
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
Each dish is labelled.
Staff to serve canapés.
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The courses you’d like
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Questions from Appleton
Which station should guests use for Appleton?
The closest is Oxford station, roughly 5 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like Appleton?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
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.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Do you provide serving staff?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
Step by step
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. At midsummer, it’s light in Appleton until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Related guides
Drinks receptions around Appleton
Appleton is about 4 miles north-west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Appleton. We cover all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Oxford, about 6 miles away.
Historic houses near Appleton include Appleton Manor (within half a mile east) and Longworth House (3.8 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Lawrence.
Wherever your event is in OX13, we can bring tapas catering to you. Whether your event is on Whites Forge, Town Furlong and Badswell Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Appleton, we cover Northmoor (2 miles north-west), Henwood (2 miles east), Cumnor (2 miles north-east), Wootton (2 miles east) and Chawley (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (6 miles north-east), Didcot (9 miles south-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (4 miles south-east), Witney (8 miles north-west), Carterton (11 miles west) and Wantage (9 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include FitzHarris Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and Abingdon Community Hospital (3.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Hitchcopse Pit and Cumnor Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Plough Inn (within half a mile 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