Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering in Charlton-on-Otmoor
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Charlton-on-Otmoor and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Tapas starters
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Tapas catering near Charlton-on-Otmoor
What happens on the day
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it’s light in Charlton-on-Otmoor 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Tapas catering for your event in Charlton-on-Otmoor
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We’re frequently asked to cater canapés with welcome drinks and tapas starters, with tortilla española, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo.
Near Charlton-on-Otmoor, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- Charlton-on-Otmoor (OX5)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Planning a tapas spread in Charlton-on-Otmoor
Charlton-on-Otmoor is about 5 miles south of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. For tapas catering in Charlton-on-Otmoor, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cater in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Oxford, about 6 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Islip station, about 2.3 miles west. Historic houses near Charlton-on-Otmoor include Boarstall Tower (4 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in OX5, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on High Street, Blacksmiths Lane and Church Lane. Nearby, we also cater events in Fencott (1 mile east), Murcott (1 mile east), Merton (1 mile north-east), Wendlebury (2 miles north) and Horton-cum-Studley (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Oxford (6 miles south), Bicester (5 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (12 miles south), Witney (13 miles west), Thame (11 miles south-east) and Kidlington (4 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (4.2 miles north) and Bicester Avenue (3.6 miles north). Not far away are Graven Hill and Otmoor RSPB reserve.
- Pubs nearby include The Crown pub (under half a mile east)
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Why choose live paella in Charlton-on-Otmoor?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Charlton-on-Otmoor hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- No hidden extras in your quote
For planners, venues and organisers
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Nearby places to Charlton-on-Otmoor
What else we do in Charlton-on-Otmoor
Occasions we cook for in Charlton-on-Otmoor
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Birthday drinks
- Evening sharing boards
- Work receptions
- Tapas before paella
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Questions to ask before booking
- Travel and parking costs
- When final numbers are due
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the price includes, item by item
What we need at the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Room for a tapas table
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Charlton-on-Otmoor
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
Charlton-on-Otmoor: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you come out to small places like Charlton-on-Otmoor?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
How many paellas should we have?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
What tapas catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- How long we are needed on site
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Which courses you have in mind
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and time of the event
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Charlton-on-Otmoor? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just 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