Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Aston Upthorpe events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Aston Upthorpe. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement parties
- Work receptions
Tapas catering near Aston Upthorpe
Tapas catering in Aston Upthorpe, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Typical bookings include engagement parties and cocktail parties, with tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and albóndigas.
Near Aston Upthorpe, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- Aston Upthorpe (OX11)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Canapés need staff to serve
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Staff to serve canapés.
Events we cater in Aston Upthorpe
Big or small, tapas work.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Aston Upthorpe and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Evening grazing
- Anniversary parties
- Tapas before paella
- Table tapas as a starter
Nearby historic houses include Brightwell Manor (3 miles north-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Travel and parking costs
- Payment terms and deposit
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Access to unload near the serving area
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Drinks receptions around Aston Upthorpe
Aston Upthorpe is about 3 miles south-east of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Wherever your event is in the OX11 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 12 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Cholsey station, about 1.8 miles east. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Michael, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The North Wessex Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Aston Upthorpe, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in OX11, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Lower Ham Yard, Alisons Lane and Moreton Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside Aston Upthorpe, we cover South Moreton (1 mile north), Cholsey (2 miles east), Moulsford (3 miles south-east), Winterbrook (3 miles east) and South Stoke (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (12 miles north), Didcot (3 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles north-west), Thame (15 miles north-east), Wantage (10 miles west) and Henley-on-Thames (13 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Brightwell Castle (3.1 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Churn Hill and Mowbray Fields.
- Local pubs include The Chequers Inn Public House (under half a mile south-west)
Also near Aston Upthorpe
Other catering in Aston Upthorpe
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Common questions in Aston Upthorpe
Is Aston Upthorpe too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Aston Upthorpe from London?
About 48 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
The process
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it is served at its best. At midsummer, it’s light in Aston Upthorpe 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.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Related guides
Why choose live paella in Aston Upthorpe?
Nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Aston Upthorpe hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Catering across Oxfordshire, including Aston Upthorpe
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
What affects the price in Aston Upthorpe
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The length of service
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many staff you need
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything your venue supplies
- The venue or postcode
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, 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