Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Ardley, Oxfordshire
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Ardley: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Launches and office parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Tapas catering in Ardley
Your questions about tapas catering in Ardley
Do you come out to small places like Ardley?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which station should guests use for Ardley?
The closest is Bicester North station, roughly 3.8 miles away.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How many tapas per person?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes, tapas work on their own.
Do you provide serving staff?
Canapés work best with staff serving, and we can provide them.
Tapas catering in Ardley, cooked live
We will recommend a tapas selection for your event, starter or main event. Typical bookings include sharing boards for evening guests and engagement drinks, with albóndigas, croquetas and Serrano ham.
In a rural spot like Ardley, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Location
- Ardley (OX27)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Occasions we cook for in Ardley
They’re the classic starter before paella.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Ardley:
- Office parties and launches
- Tapas before paella
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement parties
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- How bad weather is handled
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The deposit and payment dates
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Collect dietary needs
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Include staff for canapés
Canapés circulate with drinks.
Serving boards and crockery.
Planning the cooking area
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Space for a serving table or station
- Unloading access
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Ardley
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. At midsummer, it is light in Ardley until about 9:30pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Planning a tapas spread in Ardley
Ardley is about 4 miles north-west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Ardley and the surrounding area. We cover 443 places across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 13 miles away.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Ardley, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Guests travelling by rail: Bicester North station is about 3.8 miles away.
Wherever your event is in OX27, we can cook for your guests. Local streets include Church Road, Station Road and Somerton Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Fewcott (1 mile north-west), Fritwell (1 mile north-west), Upper Heyford (2 miles south-west), Middleton Stoney (2 miles south) and Souldern (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (13 miles south), Banbury (10 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south-east), Kidlington (9 miles south), Headington Quarry (13 miles south) and Bure Park (3 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Ardley Castle (within half a mile west) and Bicester Community Hospital (3.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Ardley includes Graven Hill.
- Local pubs include The Fox and Hounds pub (less than half a mile north-east)
Nearby places to Ardley
More for events in Ardley
Live paella or other catering?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why us?
- Events in Ardley and across Oxfordshire
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
Dishes our guests love
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
DIY paella versus live catering
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
What tapas catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The length of service
- Whether you need crockery
- The paellas you choose
- Guest numbers
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Where the event is
- Expected numbers
- The date and time of the event
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
- 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